As ASADA prepares its findings we look back out how the NRL's doping saga unfolded ASADA is expected to hand down its findings as soon as this week. AS speculation begins to mount that ASADA will release the results of its investigation into drugs as soon as this week, we take a look back at how the doping saga has played out in the NRL. The NRL's ASADA investigation timeline February 7 - The ACC releases the "blackest day in Australian sport" report on crime links and performance-enhancing drugs. February 10 - Lawyers for Stephen Dank launch a $10 million defamation claim against various media outlets, saying he was falsely accused of selling illegal drugs to sports people. February 12 - Six NRL clubs announce they were implicated in the ACC's report. They are Cronulla, Manly, Newcastle, North Queensland, Penrith and Canberra. February 12 - The NRL clubs identified in the ACC investigation discuss the prospect of amnesties with ASADA for players and officials who come forward early. February 13 - Both the Manly Sea Eagles and the Newcastle Knights say they have been cleared of doping by ASADA. February 13 - Cronulla reveals that part of its 2011 season is under scrutiny, but says none of its players have tested positive to drugs. February 14 - North Queensland says it has been cleared of any wrongdoing in regards to doping but may take legal action over being dragged into the saga. February 15 - ASADA representatives assure the Canberra Raiders they have little to worry about in regards to doping. Members of the Cronulla Sharks playing roster have been interviewed by ASADA. March 6 - Reports emerge that ASADA has interviewed 14 Sharks players regarding banned supplements distributed or used in 2011. Amnesty is offered to players who come forward early. March 8 - Cronulla announces it has stood down coach Shane Flanagan pending a full management review at the club. Football general manager Darren Mooney and head trainer Mark Noakes are sacked by the Sharks, and club doctor David Givney and club physio Konrad Schultz are told their services are no longer required. The club also announces that Cronulla's new interim chief executive will be former Brisbane Broncos boss Bruno Cullen. March 13 - Damian Irvine quits as Cronulla chairman. The announcement followed newspaper reports in which he claimed players were injected with horse drugs. March 15 - It emerges that Josh Perry's house had been used by Manly players to inject calves blood - a legal but controversial treatment to aid recovery. March 20 - The NRL and Australian Rugby League Commission announce ASADA will move to interview 31 players. April 4 - NRL players seek clarification of rights and obligations in relation to the "reasonable assistance" they are required to give ASADA investigators. April 6 - NRL boss Dave Smith confirms blood passports are likely to be introduced as a mechanism to monitor the use of performance enhancing substances. April 10 - Members of Manly's coaching staff are sent interview notices by ASADA. April 25 - Parramatta become the seventh club to be hauled into ASADA's investigation, with two current Eels players wanted for interview. April 29 - Player interviews are dumped by ASADA after Wade Graham turned up in thongs and a baseball cap and refused to answer any questions. May 1 - It emerges that dumped Cronulla trainer Trent Elkin has told ASADA that peptides were used at the club in 2011. May 3 - A credit card belonging to the NRL's official statistics supplier was used to purchase drugs from a clinic with extensive links to figures at the centre of the current ASADA investigation. May 5 - The ABC's 7.30 Report obtains leaked emails between Dank and WADA. The emails sought answers about whether the not-certified-for-human-use peptide AOD-9604 was on the WADA prohibited substance list. May 12 - An independent document written by former ASADA deputy chair Tricia Kavanagh claims the Cronulla Sharks employed a systematic regime of performance-enhancing peptides in 2011. May 14 - An explosive letter penned by Cronulla club doctor David Givney to coach Shane Flanagan expressing concerns about peptide use in 2011 is published in News Limited newspapers. Sandor Earl is named by ASADA as having been injected with peptides. June 14 - Sandor Earl becomes the first NRL player named in the ASADA investigation, following a report alleging the Raiders winger was injected with peptides at a private medical clinic. June 15 - The Penrith Panthers launch their own internal investigation over the Earl revelations. June 16 - It is revealed that ASADA has in its possession hundreds of text messages between controversial sports scientist Stephen Dank and individual NRL players, including NSW Origin captain Paul Gallen and Canberra Raider Sandor Earl. July 22 - The Daily Telegraph obtains a document sent to AFL side the Bombers by ASADA telling players they could receive "a complete elimination of sanction" should they confess their knowledge. July 22 - It is revealed that the AFL and federal government cut a private deal in February for ASADA to "explore all avenues" to spare Essendon players from suspension over the systemic use of supplements last season. Its existence infuriates NRL officials, who suspected the AFL had received favourable treatment from ASADA. July 23 - At least eight Cronulla Sharks players, including NSW State of Origin captain Paul Gallen, were in negotiations to cut a deal over alleged anti-doping violations in March, according to documents obtained by The Daily Telegraph. July 24 - The Daily Telegraph publishes images of Stephen Dank in the Cronulla Sharks dressing room during the 11-week window that landed the club at the centre of the drugs-in-sport investigation. July 30 - Cronulla CEO Bruno Cullen quits in disgust over the board's decision to reappoint trainer Mark Noakes, who claimed that players were injected with peptides in 2011. Sports scientist Stephen Dank Source: News Limited August 1 - It is revealed that two-time premiership-winning coach Des Hasler headlines a host of non-playing staff who've received ASADA interview notices. August 4 - It is revealed Manly Sea Eagles stars Anthony Watmough and Brett Stewart headline a list of 30 players to be interviewed by ASADA. August 6 - It emerges that Paul Simonsson, a senior investigator in the drugs-in-sport probe, has close ties to Manly-Warringah. August 8 - Anthony Watmough emerges as the second NRL player to have his phone temporarily seized by Customs at Sydney International Airport. Government officials would not confirm or deny whether the seizures were connected to the investigation. August 15 - Stephen Dank launches an incarnation of the peptide clinic with extensive links to the drugs-in-sport probe. August 17 - The Daily Telegraph reveals a syringe seized during the police bust of former Newcastle Knights prop Danny Wicks ignited suspicions of performance-enhancing drug use in the NRL. August 18 - Newcastle's involvement in the drugs in sport investigation takes a fresh twist with test results from five players contracted to the Knights in 2010 and 2011 found to be "suspicious" for peptide use. August 22 - An NRL player is implicated in the AFL's stunning dossier of disrepute charges against Essendon, with banned peptide Thymosin Beta-4 identified as the substance used to treat a serious injury. August 30 - ASADA claims its first scalp, with Canberra Raiders winger Sandor Earl stood down after admitting to using and trafficking banned peptide CJC-1295. August 31 - The Daily Telegraph reveals a witness alleged Sharks players were shown how to self-inject peptides as part of the club's 2011 supplements program. Isaac Gordon's injury was at the centre of ASADA's investigation. September 8 - The father of Cronulla player Isaac Gordon claims his family was advised by club representatives to stonewall ASADA when investigators called into question about horrific bruising he suffered two years ago. September 26 - Sandor Earl breaks his silence, giving a tell-all account of his dealings with Stephen Dank. September 26 - It emerges that photographs of blood tests showing elevated testosterone and hGH levels for three Roosters players were taken without permission and deliberately leaked to a figure suspected of dealing party and performance-enhancing drugs. ASADA says the players have no case to answer. October 16 - Former Roosters players Martin Kennedy and Tom Symonds become the latest players to be interviewed by ASADA to discuss their relationship with a central figure in the probe. October 17 - Former Sharks forward Josh Cordoba becomes the club's second ex-player to commence legal action over the controversial 2011 supplement program. Darren Hibbert, aka The Gazelle. Supplied by Channel Nine. November 15 - The ASADA scandal moves to the NSW District Court, with suspended winger Sandor Earl beginning legal action against the doctor who injected him with banned peptides in 2011. December 5 - The Daily Telegraph obtains a Disclosure Notice, which compels persons of interest to attend interviews and submit documents to the anti-doping watchdog. December 6 - ASADA scores a major coup in its NRL investigation, obtaining letters promoting specific peptides that have been given to as many as 20 players implicated in the probe. They also carry the nickname and contact details belonging to one of the parties alleged to have injected Sharks players, supplement sales representative Darren 'The Gazelle' Hibbert. December 6 - It is revealed Sharks skipper Paul Gallen sought independent counsel and engaged corporate lawyer Steven Glass and barrister Greg James QC just prior to his first ASADA interview in August.