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Essendon Football Club

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In February 2013, the Essendon Football Club was investigated by the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Agency over suspicions about the legality of their supplements in the 2012 AFL season. With no serious problems until four years later when 34 Essendon players were discovered to have been using Thymosin beta-4 (TB 500). Thymosin beta-4 is the artificial version of the natural peptide found in human cells and is used illegally in competitive sport to promote wound healing, muscle building, and speeds up muscle recovery time. The 34 Essendon players administrated Thymosin beta-4 illegally to their bodies at Stephan Dank’s (sports scientist & supplement program organizer) wish as they were all assured that what was being subcutaneously injected into their bodies was ASADA-approved (Australian Sport Anti-Doping Agency). …show more content…

Due to the clubs belief that Essendon was falling behind in terms of supplements, especially in player recovery, both Robinson and Dank were hired. Dank suggested a series of injections including Thymosin beta-4 to be taken to help player recovery. However, the players were not aware of this and were assured at the time that all of the supplements were legal, as mentioned before. This program began in 2011, but it wasn’t until 2012 when the club doctor, Dr Bruce Reid, voiced his concerns about the supplements program. As Dank had not conversed with Reid about the content of the program, Reid ensured that these concerns were heard, and was sure that Dank was ‘playing at the edge’ of legality by distributing these drugs. As it happens, Dank was then dismissed from the club in September 2012 due to continuing on with the injections after the club administrators agreed it must

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