Academic defends Dank's integrity

Former Essendon sports consultant Stephen Dank at his Ascot Vale home. Picture: Tony Gough Source: Supplied

THE academic supervising Stephen Dank's stalled PhD has defended the integrity of the figure emerging as sports science's fall-guy in the Essendon supplement scandal.

And Bomber great Tim Watson has turned the heat up on the Federal Government to justify the gravity of claims made last week about drugs in sport with evidence and/or criminal or civil charges of individuals.

University of Sydney Associate Dean, Ian Spence, backed his student Dank - the central character in the Essendon drug furore - as a straight shooter with considerable academic talent.

"Academically he is good, knows his stuff but had a lot going on,'' said Spence, referring to Dank's work with NRL and AFL clubs.

"He really knows a lot about sports physiology, has got his head around all of that.''

Spence's assessment contrasts with the portrayal of a man allegedly injecting as yet undetermined substances into Essendon players before leaving the club last December.

"It (sports science) is a bit of a voodoo area and that is why he wanted to do the PhD to try and get one of these products documented,'' he said. ``I never saw anything to do with injectables.''

In an interview with ABC's 7.30 Dank indicated he would be submitting his PhD but Spence said his candidature was suspended last year.

Dank's PhD centred on the use of lactiva - an extract from pine bark that could be used to help rejuvenation. Spence hopes Dank will finish the written stage of the PhD.

"He is a PhD student but is not currently enrolled. I don't know what the future holds. He could come back if he gets it all back together.''

Regardless, Dank has polarised opinion across the sports and academic communities.

Jobe Watson's 2012 Brownlow Medal win has been questioned in light of the Bomber supplement furore.

Jobe's father Tim indicated the joint media conference to announce the Australian Crime Commission's investigation into the integrity of sport on last Thursday may have been elevated in an election year

"I think there has been a bit of political grandstanding that has gone on with all this,'' said Watson adding he would be "flabbergasted'' if players or coaches took banned supplements at Essendon.

Federal Minister for Sport Kate Lundy has been forced to defend the timing of the ACC report finding with the Gillard government languishing in opinion polls.

"The Crime Commission completed their report and handed it to Government and briefed the codes. And it was the Crime Commission's completion of that report that determined the timing," Senator Lundy said.

What do you think of the ACC report and its effect on the NRL and AFL? Who's to blame? Will you still support your team? Do you think players are clean?
Have your say by taking our quick survey below.

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