DEPENDING on who you talk to at Manly, Stephen Dank could be many things. A mystery man. Or a scapegoat.
But everyone who dealt with the sports science guru - across five NRL and two AFL clubs - can agree on one thing. When it came to maximising performance, he knew exactly what boundaries to push and wasn't afraid to do so.
Those boundaries attracted interest when his latest club, Essendon, threw themselves at the mercy of the AFL and ASADA yesterday after being informed of potential issues with their supplement program.
At a snap press conference in Melbourne yesterday afternoon, Essendon chairman David Evans and coach James Hird rocked Australian sport when they revealed the club had disturbing information about its supplement program.
Dank's role has attracted interest because he left the Bombers last year amid concerns about the outfit's sports science department.
At Windy Hill he reunited with conditioner Dean "The Weapon" Robinson, who had also worked under Hasler at Manly.
Essendon last night stood down Robinson, pending the outcome of investigations.
Robinson came under sustained fire last year thanks to an extraordinary incidence of soft-tissue injuries at Essendon, which saw the Bombers lose 10 of their remaining 13 games to plunge from finals calculations.
"The integrity at the club is critical, and that's why we've moved quickly to contact the AFL," Evans said.
"Of course this is a very distressing time for our club, we believe as a club we have done everything right to be compliant with the AFL and ASADA.
STEVE DANK
Dr Steve Danks undertook DNA testing with Manly Sea Eagles NRL footballers. Picture: Phil Hillyard Source: The Daily Telegraph
"We have moved quickly to call the AFL and ASADA to seek a clean bill of health. The info we gathered over the last 24 or 48 hours is slightly concerning, and we want to dig a bit deeper but we want the AFL to help us."
Dank left Manly at the end of 2010.
For the previous six seasons he worked under coach Des Hasler, helping the Sea Eagles' transformation from top-eight outcasts to established title contenders.
Arriving at Brookvale after stints with Souths and Wests Tigers, Dank broke new ground with lactate-reducing concoctions, calf blood injections and DNA testing.
He had a personal stake in the company Lact-Away, which Sea Eagles players first started using in 2005 to prevent build-up of lactic acid that restricts movement.
DNA testing was introduced around the same time, enabling Dank to measure the fast- and slow-twitch muscle capabilities of each player and tailor their supplements accordingly.
But the most radical manoeuvre came in 2008, when reports emerged that Manly players were being injected with calf blood.
The bovine booster is permitted under the anti-doping code - so long as it's injected into body tissue or muscle. A well-placed Manly insider yesterday told The Daily Telegraph that issues began to emerge when at least one player was asked to have the injections administered intravenously.
ESSENDON PRESS CONFERENCE - DRUGS
Dank's contract was not renewed at the end of 2010. Former CEO Graham Lowe last night attributed his departure to budget cuts.
In 2011, Dank did some consulting for Penrith and also took his expertise to the Cronulla Sharks.
Regularly dressed in a suit, he helped the Sharks source the best GPS technology and remodel their new gym at Sharks Stadium.
When the season started he became more involved in dealing with players individually, which concerned Sharks doctor David Givney.
According to a Sharks insider, some players began to display mysterious bruising after being given Warfarin to thin their blood and aid the flow of oxygen.
A fall-out between Givney and Dank led to the sports scientist leaving the club. He did some consultancy for the Gold Coast Suns before arriving at Essendon last year.
As ASADA called for witnesses to assist its investigation, former Bomber Kyle Reimers told Channel 9 that players were asked to sign waiver forms before taking supplements.
"From what they were saying, it was right on the borderline of what they were going to give us," the player said.
"Everyone signed it, it was a personal choice as to whether they took it.
"They admitted to us it was right on the edge of the levels you could be taking."
Attempts to contact Dank at his home and on the phone were unsuccessful yesterday.
