Controversial biochemist Shane Charter hit with drug charges

The controversial biochemist at the centre of the Essendon supplements scandal has been charged with trafficking testosterone.

Essendon supplements scandal figure Shane Charter has been hit with testosterone trafficking charges by organised crime detectives.

Charter was arrested in Fitzroy in September by Echo taskforce investigators in what a police spokeswoman said at the time was an investigation into drug trafficking linked to outlaw motorcycle gangs.

Computers, patient files and medications were seized from his Dr Ageless health clinic.

The 54-year-old was this month charged with four counts of trafficking a drug of dependence, believed to relate to testosterone.

Biochemist Shane Charter treated underworld hit survivor Sam ‘The Punisher’ Abdulrahim.

Charter was also charged with one count of failing to provide information, believed to be related to his refusal to surrender his phone’s personal identification number.

He will appear in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on February 16 next year.

The arrest of Charter came on the same day he was hit with a $2m bill by the Australian Taxation Office.

He later told the Herald Sun the ATO can “kiss my arse” and that he would fight the matter.

On the same day he was presented with the bill, he and brother Craig won a $3.4m property dispute against accused underworld money man Tom Karas.

Charter had been running a Dr Ageless clinic in the Nicholson St, Fitzroy, house which was at the centre of the Karas dispute.

Shane Charter was embroiled in the Essendon drug scandal.

He claimed after being arrested that he was a target for police because of friends and patients including gangland figures Sam “The Punisher” Abdulrahim and Toby Mitchell.

He treated Abdulrahim in the aftermath of a June shooting ambush in which he was wounded while attending a cousin’s funeral at Fawkner Cemetery.

“They (police) think we’ve got too many people coming into the clinic they don’t like,” Charter said.

The biochemist came to public prominence during the Essendon Football Club saga when it was revealed he had supplied supplements to sports scientist Stephen Dank for use by players.