Melbourne Demons stand down club doctor Dan Bates over links to Stephen Dank

MELBOURNE club doctor Dan Bates last night stood down after his dealings with sports scientist Stephen Dank were exposed.

Dan Bates

MELBOURNE club doctor Dan Bates last night stood down after the Demons' dealings with controversial sports scientist Stephen Dank were exposed.

Bates and football manager Josh Mahoney were yesterday part of a Melbourne delegation ordered to AFL House for a five-hour grilling by Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority and league investigators.

The Demons said Bates would be suspended from working at the club pending the outcome of the investigation, which would also examine the football department.

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In a statement released last night, Melbourne president Don McLardy said the medico had been interviewed three times as part of an internal review into supplement use after the launch of the Essendon investigation in February.

"We have sufficient concerns about an identified breakdown in reporting protocols that we believe it is appropriate that Dr Bates stands aside until these matters are further investigated," McLardy said.

AFL boss Andrew Demetriou was yesterday furious at what he labelled "inconsistencies" and "omissions" in Melbourne's initial response to questions about Dank's involvement with the club.

Demons officials told the league the club had no formal links to Dank, but text messages between Dank and Bates suggest he worked closely with players.

It is known coach Mark Neeld was assured by a senior club official in February that he had nothing to worry about.

The AFL is less concerned about what may prove "legitimate substances" being administered to players than about being allegedly misled by the Demons.

"I don't want to speculate on that (possible Melbourne sanctions) other than to say you'll have heard me say countless times that this issue of ethics and trust in our code ... is something that you can't play ping-pong with," Demetriou told ABC radio.

"If anybody hasn't got the message that they must be absolutely truthful and be absolutely honest and upfront with the AFL, then there will be consequences."

Demetriou also told 3AW: "We asked the specific question the media had asked: Was Stephen Dank approached? Or did Stephen Dank approach Melbourne? Or was there discussion around employment at the Melbourne Football Club?

"You would expect that when we sat down with every club that was an opportunity for every club to be full and frank, to put their cards on the table, given the gravity of the situation".

Josh Mahoney

Melbourne refused to comment yesterday, instead standing by a statement released late on Thursday night that said an internal review of its supplements program had found no evidence of illegal practices.

The Demons now face a month of uncertainty, with ASADA and the AFL set to probe deeper into the club.

Melbourne told the Herald Sun in February that Dank "has never had any direct contact with the players".

that said an internal review of its supplements program found no evidence of any illegal practices.

It also said: "As soon as the investigation was launched into the Essendon Football Club, the Melbourne Football Club instructed all staff including Dr Bates to sever all ties with Stephen Dank, which occurred."

It remains unknown what justification the club has shown for not admitting its full involvement with Dank to the AFL.

The Demons now face a month of uncertainty, with ASADA and AFL investigators set to probe deeper into the club.

Melbourne told the Herald Sun in February that Dank "has never had any direct contact with the players."