A South Yarra pharmacy at which Nima Alavi works. Photo: Angela Wylie
Nick McKenzie, Richard Baker and Caroline Wilson
Former Hawthorn and All Australian player Trent Croad was involved in a peptide supply deal linked to the Comancheros outlaw bikie gang. Photo: Craig Abraham
Former Hawthorn and All Australian player Trent Croad was involved in a peptide supply deal linked to the Comancheros outlaw bikie gang.
Sources in the sports science and supplements industry confirmed that Mr Croad’s activities had been scrutinised by the Australian Crime Commission, along with that of several supplement industry figures, as part of its year-long probe into drugs and organised crime in sport.
The sources said the former Hawthorn premiership player confided to friends that late last year he had met figures associated with the Comancheros.
The meeting, at the Olsen Hotel in Melbourne, was in connection with a deal involving the sale by Mr Croad of a large amount of peptides to be sourced from Sydney.
About 50 serving and former professional sportsmen, including players from six NRL clubs, are under scrutiny over their use of personal supplements. The clubs believed to be under closest examination are Cronulla, Manly, Canberra, Penrith, the Newcastle Knights and North Queensland.
Fairfax Media is not suggesting the players breached doping rules but their use of supplements is being examined by authorities.
Croad approached two clubs, AFL sources said
Australian Football League sources said Mr Croad had approached at least two football clubs with offers to supply them with supplements. Business documents show that, in September last year, Mr Croad started a company, Pharma Ventures. At the time of the Olsen Hotel meeting, peptides were unregulated and it was not illegal to sell them. Mr Croad expressed surprise that the Comancheros attended the meeting.
Mr Croad could not be contacted last night and it is unclear if he followed through on his peptide deal.
Mr Croad worked in a senior role at the Epigenx medical practice in Toorak until late last year, when he unexpectedly severed ties with the clinic.
The clinic’s founder is a respected doctor, Robin Willcourt, who worked with the Essendon Football Club’s sports scientist, Steven Dank, last season to examine blood samples from the team’s players.
Mr Dank told the ABC’s 7.30 the supplement program he introduced at Essendon was conducted with the full knowledge of the club, including players, coach James Hird, high performance manager Dean Robinson and team doctor Bruce Reid. Mr Dank denies administering any prohibited substances at Essendon or with the NRL’s Manly.
On Monday, Dr Willcourt stressed that his clinic had no role in supplying any pharmaceuticals or sporting supplements and that if his patients wanted such supplements, they needed to take their prescription to a pharmacist. He declined to talk about Mr Croad’s conduct or why Mr Croad left Epigenx: ‘‘Mr Croad’s activities are a matter for him.’’
It is not improper to sell peptides
A South Yarra pharmacist, Nima Alavi, supplied supplements to several of the sporting codes now under scrutiny. A leaked invoice, dated January 31, 2013, shows Mr Alavi previously supplied supplements to Mr Dank while he headed Essendon’s sports science department. The invoice does not show what product was supplied.
As a compound pharmacist, Mr Alavi’s job involves mixing medicines for patients who have a prescription from their doctor.
It is not improper to sell peptides, but their use by professional athletes may breach anti-doping regulations.
On Monday, Mr Alavi’s website was listing as ‘‘coming soon’’ the hormone peptide GHRP6, which is at the centre of the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority’s investigation that was triggered by the Crime Commission inquiry.
Fairfax Media is not suggesting that any of the activities of Mr Alavi, a former director of Epigenx, have been improper.
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