Melbourne football manager Josh Mahoney leaves AFL House after speaking to ASADA officials and league investigators. Picture: Hamish Blair Source: Herald Sun
MELBOURNE doctor Dan Bates has been stood down after his secret dealings with controversial sports scientist Stephen Dank were exposed.
Bates and football manager Josh Mahoney were part of a Melbourne delegation ordered to AFL House earlier today for a marathon 5 1/2-hour grilling by Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority and league investigators.
The Herald Sun understands Bates has been suspended from working at Melbourne after the launch of the fresh investigation, which will also examine the Demons' football department.
AFL boss Andrew Demetriou was furious at what he labelled "inconsistencies" and "omissions" in Melbourne's initial response to questions about Dank's involvement with the club.
Demons officials told the league it had no formal links to Dank, but text messages between him and Bates show he worked closely with players. It is known coach Mark Neeld was assured by a senior Demons official in February, when the Essendon story broke, that he had nothing to worry about.
The AFL is less concerned about what may prove "legitimate substances" being administered to players as it is over being misled by the embattled club.
"I don't want to speculate on that (possible Melbourne sanction) other than to say you'll have heard me say countless times that this issue of ethics and trust in our code . . . is something that you can't play ping-pong with," Demetriou told ABC radio.
"If anybody hasn't got the message that they must be absolutely truthful and be absolutely honest and upfront with the AFL then there will be consequences."
Demetriou also told 3AW: "We asked the specific question the media had asked; was Stephen Dank approached? Or did Stephen Dank approach Melbourne? Or was there discussion around employment at the Melbourne Football club?" he said.
"You would expect that when we sat down with every club that was an opportunity for every club to be full and frank to put their cards on the table given the gravity of the situation".
Melbourne refused to comment yesterday, instead standing by a statement released late Thursday night which said an internal review of its supplements program found no evidence of any illegal practices.
It also said: "As soon as the investigation was launched into the Essendon Football Club, the Melbourne Football Club instructed all staff including Dr Bates to sever all ties with Stephen Dank, which occurred."
It remains unknown what justification they have shown for not admitting their full involvement with Dank to the AFL.
The Demons now face a month of uncertainty, with ASADA and AFL investigators set to probe deeper into the club. Melbourne told the Herald Sun in February that Dank "has never had any direct contact with the players."
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