Claims former Essendon strength coach Dean Robinson helped ASADA investigators

ONE of the key architects of the Essendon drugs regime co-operated with ASADA in the hope of avoiding doping charges.

Robinson ASADA’s secret weapon

ONE of the key architects of the Essendon drugs regime co-operated with the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority in the hope of avoiding doping charges.

Dean “The Weapon” Robinson agreed to give information to ASADA investigators just days after the Bombers scandal erupted in February 2013.

There was no formal agreement for immunity, but Robinson helped investigators on the basis of an “understanding”.

“It was made clear he would be looked after ... but it was not guaranteed,” a source close to the investigation said.

“He provided the material that was wanted.”

Robinson has never been charged over his role in Australian sport’s greatest scandal.

Asked on Wednesday whether an agreement had been reached with Robinson in exchange for his information, an ASADA spokesperson said: “You can quote the CEO (Ben McDevitt) as saying that ASADA strongly rejects the claims relating to any deal with Mr Robinson”.

Other sources insisted Robinson was still being investigated.

Revelations of Robinson’s dealings with ASADA comes just days after the Herald Sun revealed Nathan Bock had been cleared of doping, despite previous statements to ASADA by the high-performance coach that he had given the former Suns star the banned peptide CJC-1295.

ASADA has failed to explain why Robinson has not been pursued over his involvement in the Bock case or the Bombers scandal.

Sports scientist Stephen Dank, who reported to Robinson when they teamed up at Essendon in late 2011, was slapped with a lifetime ban by the AFL last June over his role with both Bock and the Dons.

Thirty-four past and present Essendon players also received doping bans in January.

Dank and Robinson worked together at the Suns in 2010 and reunited at Essendon in late 2011 to help establish the Bombers’ “pharmacologically experimental” drugs program.

Robinson was stood down by the Bombers on February 5, 2013 — the day Essendon “self-reported” to ASADA and the AFL.

He then pocketed a $1 million wrongful dismissal payment from Essendon in 2014 after issuing Supreme Court subpoenas against AFL chiefs Andrew Demetriou and Gillon McLachlan and Bombers bosses David Evans and Ian Robson.

The former Geelong, Gold Coast and Essendon fitness boss has since landed a job with AFL auditor, KPMG.

Robinson, through his legal adviser, declined to comment.

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