Essendon supplements scandal chemist Nima Alavi hit with drug charges before recent death

A key player in the Essendon supplements scandal was facing a mammoth string of criminal charges— then he died.

A key player in the Essendon supplements scandal was hit with more than 2000 criminal charges related to drug possession.

Compounding chemist Nima Alavi was facing charges brought by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).

But the 2213 charges were withdrawn after Alavi was found dead in his Armadale home in December.

Pharmacist Nima Alavi supplied Essendon biochemist Stephen Dank.

Alavi, 44, has been investigated by AHPRA over accusations he was illegally supplying prescription drug oxycodone.

He died on December 19 last year but his body was only discovered three days later.

Alavi’s death was not treated as suspicious.

The South Yarra pharmacist was at the centre of the Essendon saga, which resulted in season long bans for 34 Bombers players in 2016.

He was accused of being the chemist who made the substances after receiving shipments of raw materials from Shane Charter, known for his Dr Ageless.

The details of the charges against Alavi have only been revealed after the Herald Sun fought a suppression order in the case.

Melbourne Magistrates Court heard an application from Mr Alavi’s family on Friday.

They were seeking to suppress the case to protect the psychological safety of his family.

Their barrister Muniz Saavedra also objected to the release of the charges because it could reduce the sale price for Alavi’s pharmacy in the Como Centre.

Isabelle Gwinner, appearing for the Herald and Weekly Times, challenged the suppression order based on the principle of “open justice”.

Ms Gwinner argued that the broad suppression order being sought was invalid.

Magistrate Tim Bourke challenged Mr Saavedra to provide evidence of the psychological harm that publication of the charges may cause.

The Essendon saga, which resulted in season long bans for 34 Bombers players in 2016.

“What evidence do I have?”, Mr Bourke asked.

Magistrate Bourke requested that a written report be provided by a psychologist within two weeks.

Mr Saveedra sought a short recess before returning to court to withdraw the application.

Alavi became a household name at the height of the Bombers scandal.

He had been engaged by Stephen Dank, who was in charge of Essendon’s program, to provide supplements.

There was debate about exactly what was included in the supplements injected into the Essendon players.

Alavi was interviewed in 2014 where denied signing a letter identifying the compounds given to the Bombers.

“The letter said something along the lines of ‘Thymomodulin has been compounded and it is not banned by WADA’,” Alavi told the ABC at the time.

“And then had my name at the bottom. And my signature on the letter.”

He said he had refused to sign the letter “because I didn’t know whether it was Thymomodulin [or] Thymosin Beta 4.”

Alavi’s family now live in Queensland.