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by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago

Just days before the Essendon-ASADA June 27 court hearing, Stephen Dank was arrested and questioned by the Purana police task force regarding the theft of over $10,000 worth of peptides. Dank was released but the police are continuing their investigations. The allegations of theft came from compound pharmacist Nima Alavi, who suspects Dank stole peptides intended for a patient. Alavi said he believes Dank forged his signature on documents stating substances used on Essendon players were WADA compliant.

Dank is also under investigation for alleged Medicare fraud. The investigation involves Victorian police and federal and Medicare investigators. Information for that investigation has been supplied by anti-aging doctor Robin Willcourt. Willcourt claims that Dank forged and/or photocopied his signature on over 40 prescriptions to refer patients for expensive blood tests. There are also allegations he did the same with other doctors' signatures to refer patients to clinics in Melbourne and Sydney as part of a Medicare fraud scheme. Dank has denied the allegations and said, "Everything was done under the full direction of the doctors involved and I personally gained no financial benefit.” However it has been revealed that the "show cause" notice issued to Dank by ASADA accuses him of "trafficking, possessing and administering banned substances to players, staff and coaches at Essendon and a second AFL club, the Gold Coast Suns, and covering up their use."

The Purana Taskforce was created during Melbourne's gangland murders but has more recently been investigating serious crime and corruption within Australian sports. The Taskforce was involved in an investigation in 2013 which uncovered an international match fixing syndicate in Victoria's Premier Soccer League.

Both Alavi and Dr Willcourt were interviewed on a television program on June 25. Alavi claimed that Dank approached him to produce a substance which biochemist Shane Charter described as Thymosin. Alavi said that his shop did not actually make Thymosin, but received it and dissolved it, then placed it in sterile vials to go to a lab for testing. He said Dank took the vials himself, telling Alavi he had a lab in Melbourne to examine the vials. He went on to say that Dank contacted him several weeks later, telling him Thymosin did not form due to exposure to light. He also told of how Dank asked him numerous times to sign a letter which would indicate that Alavi had made the approved substance Thymomodulin. Not sure of what he actually produced due to Dank taking the vials, Alavi refused. In the course of their investigations, ASADA investigators showed Alavi a document with his signature. It was then he suspected Dank of forgery. Alavi realized it was a forgery because the letter listed him as a managing director. "I'm the proprietor, I wouldn't have put managing director," he said. Willcourt also knew that his name had been forged when he became aware of blood tests he had not requested, "I had some that didn't look like my signature at all and others were a clear photocopy."

According to The Australian reporter Chip Le Grand, Essendon officials could keep a close watch on further developments in this investigation as it may shed new light on a number of invoices received and paid by the club for products which were never received.

Source: theaustralian.com.au, smh.com.au, sen.com.au (audio)

Article last changed on Tuesday, July 01, 2014 - 8:24 PM EDT


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