NRL CEO Dave Smith speaks to the media yesterday. Picture: Sam Ruttyn Source: The Daily Telegraph
THE science of cheating has become so advanced that testers simply cannot detect them. That was the message from yesterday's inaugural briefing between ASADA and all six NRL clubs implicated in the Australian Crime Commission's report into performance-enhancing drug use.
The methods of sports scientist Stephen Dank were raised at length during yesterday's confidential meeting between ASADA and all the NRL clubs implicated in the Australian Crime Commission's doping report.
The Daily Telegraph can reveal Dank's Monday night television interview, in which he denied administering illicit performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs), was also discussed.
Dank provided sports science consultancy for three clubs involved - Manly, Cronulla and Penrith - and there are suspicions he maintained personal contact with certain players after parting ways with each organisation.
The briefings capped another dramatic day for the code, with revelations including:
A RECOGNITION that the saga will take months to resolve, casting a shadow over the game until midway through the season at least;
NRL boss Dave Smith declining the opportunity to rule out a police inquiry in match fixing in rugby league;
SEA Eagles boss David Perry revealing that drug cheats had outstripped the detection capacity of testers;
NEWCASTLE and North Queensland expressing the most confidence of all six clubs briefed, while Canberra boss Don Furner said his organisation was facing an "isolated" matter;
THE Raiders and Cowboys have not had their sports science records audited by the NRL, and;
ALL six clubs reminded about the amnesties on offer for players who confess or come forward with information that assists the ASADA inquiry.
The club bosses gathered at lunchtime to learn more details about the report's findings.
They were joined by Smith and NRL communications boss John Brady, as well as two ASADA operatives - one an investigator and the other a legal officer.
The meeting began with an hour-long general briefing, chaired by Tony Whitlam, QC, head of the NRL's newly-formed integrity unit.
Each CEO was then individually informed about the extent of their club's involvement, although the ASADA operatives didn't reveal the identities of any players who are suspected to have taken illicit performance-enhancing drugs.
Penrith's Phil Gould was the first to front the media and declined to reveal whether any current Panthers were implicated.
Perry, however, was more expansive and described Manly's situation as "low to medium risk".
Although Dank spent six seasons at Brookvale under former coach Des Hasler, his departure at the end of 2010 is a plus for the Sea Eagles because the bulk of investigations only extend back two years.
"It's only two years at this stage, but out of these inquiries it may go back further," Perry said.
"The fact that Manly are no longer involved with certain individuals may assist our cause."
When asked if those individuals included Dank, Perry declined to comment.
But he left nothing to the imagination when it came to the difficulty of detecting sophisticated PED users.
"The challenge is that their procedures and processes are starting to get ahead of the testers.
"They've taken advantage of that knowledge and gotten ahead of the game, potentially.
"We've just got to shut that out before it becomes an issue."
Manly held an initial meeting with players and coaching staff yesterday morning, and Perry intends to remind all at the club of the amnesties on offer in the coming days.
Furner expressed a desire for ASADA officers to address his playing group directly and hoped a meeting could be organised later this week.
Cowboys boss Peter Jourdain said his club had little to be concerned about.
"ASADA has put together a complex web of involvement that has tentative connections with the Cowboys," he said.
Earlier in the day, Smith fronted a press conference at League Central, saying he could not give a timeline on how long the ongoing investigations would take or when specific details might be made public.
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