STEPHEN Dank has been found guilty of 10 breaches of the AFL Anti-Doping Code, but has been cleared by the League’s Tribunal on three charges relating to administering the banned substance Thymosin-Beta 4.
The sports scientist, who was central to Essendon's supplements program in 2012, was issued an infraction notice last year alongside 34 past and present Bombers players.
Click here to read the full statement from David Jones, chairman of the AFL's Anti-Doping Tribunal
His case was examined alongside the players' during the Tribunal hearing which stretched over several months, but no verdict was delivered for or against Dank on March 31, when the Essendon players were cleared.
On Friday, the AFL announced the Tribunal had found Dank guilty of the breaches, which include "trafficking, attempting to traffic and complicity in matters related to a range of prohibited substances".
Click here to read the AFL's statement on the Tribunal verdict
Those substances are Hexarelin, Humanofort, CJC-1295, GHRP6 and SARSM.
Many of the breaches relate to Dank's stint at Essendon, but other clubs have been embroiled in the charge sheet.
The Tribunal, led by chairman David Jones, said it was satisfied he had trafficked Mechano Growth Factor to a Carlton support person.
It is understood the matter relates to a part-time coach who worked at the club in 2012 and is no longer there. The coach is understood to have used the substance to treat a personal injury and Carlton players were not involved.
Carlton released a statement on Friday night reassuring members that the club had no reason to be concerned about Dank's involvement.
"In early 2013, when the investigation into Essendon began, Carlton initiated a thorough review of its high-performance program," CEO Steven Trigg said.
"The results of the review were independently verified and showed that there were no grounds for us to be concerned. That also remains the case."
The Tribunal was also satisfied that Dank attempted to supply the CJC-1295 peptide to a support staffer of Gold Coast.
The Suns responded to the findings on Friday night by reiterating that Dank had only been a club employee for a brief time, and that the matter investigated by ASADA took place outside the club.
The Tribunal also said Dank had distributed GHRP6 (a growth hormone) to a third party in the sport of baseball.
However, Dank was cleared of several important breaches relating to administering, attempting to administer or assisting, encouraging and aiding the administration of Thymosin Beta-4 to Essendon players during his time at the club.
The tribunal also cleared Dank of administering prohibited substance Hexarelin to players.
A hearing on Dank's sanction will be held on May 5.
"The circumstances surrounding the case have been extremely difficult, given the amount of information and the number of parties involved, and the professionalism and diligence of the Tribunal has been greatly appreciated by the AFL," AFL legal counsel Andrew Dillon said in a statement.
ASADA had been "eagerly awaiting" the Tribunal's decision relating to Dank before announcing whether it would appeal the 'not guilty' verdict handed to the Essendon players.
But the anti-doping body said on Friday it was disappointed in the Tribunal's decision to clear Dank of "a number of serious alleged violations".
It also expressed its desire for a quicker result from the tribunal after two-and-a-half weeks since the Essendon verdict was revealed.
"ASADA notes that all 35 matters were heard concurrently by the tribunal. We also note the tribunal stated its preference was to release their decisions on all 35 matters at the same time," ASADA said in a statement.
"The reality however is that we have only just received the findings on Mr Dank. ASADA is disappointed that this comes as the window of appeal on the first 34 matters rapidly closes.
"ASADA will now consider both decisions in their totality."
ASADA's appeal period closes on Tuesday, but the World Anti-Doping Agency has a further 21 days to appeal the decision.
Dank has already been banned from the NRL for his role in the Cronulla Sharks' supplements program.
Ahead of the verdict being released, Essendon coach James Hird said on Friday morning that he was focused on the Bombers' football and was not following the case.
"I've lost interest in the whole issue at the moment. We're worried about Carlton and that's what we'll worry about," Hird said.
CJC-1295
Used in the bodybuilding world because of its muscle-building properties. Particularly dangerous because it can promote the growth of cells that cause cancer.
Hexaralin
Designed to give better muscle tone as it increases the user's production of natural growth hormone. Not approved for medical use.
SARMs
SARMs (Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators) provide regular benefits of steroids, such as higher levels of testosterone and increased muscle mass.
Humanofort
A muscle growth and recovery product. Contains various banned growth factors that can accelerate healing, including Thymosin Beta 4, Machano Growth Factor, Insulin Growth Factor 1, Insulin Growth Factor 2 and Follistatin.
GHRP-6
A peptide that is used to increase growth hormone levels and production. Aids in fat loss and to heal injury.
