Darker days looming for sport as Australian Crime Commission and ASADA investigation continues Artwork: Boo Bailey Source: The Daily Telegraph I have been an extremely vocal critic of the Australian Crime Commission and the investigation into alleged systemic doping in professional football. There is little doubt that elements of the investigation have been marred by the media conference at which senior government ministers and ACC personnel claimed they had uncovered widespread doping, possible match-fixing and the involvement of organised crime in professional football in Australia. The process became instantly political and deeply affected the ability of the ACC and the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority to complete their investigations. Now, however, the chickens are coming home to roost. Next week will see more facts uncovered in what is becoming Australia's biggest doping investigation. The independent report compiled by senior counsel Trish Kavanagh underlines her and independent oncologists' deep concerns about the possible causal link between peptides and the acceleration of Jon Mannah's cancer. Senior cancer researchers, leading sports medics and oncologists yesterday expressed their concern that the specific use of one of the peptides could have caused the cancer to accelerate in Mannah's body. Claims there was a link between the use of peptides and Jon Mannah's death from cancer shock Dr Peter Larkins of Sports Medicine Australia. This week, I have been blown away by the level of information I have received from various credible sources which vindicates to a large extent the original stand taken by the ACC. That information leaves very little doubt that the use of peptides has been uncovered at the Cronulla rugby league club and led to the compilation of a damning independent report by the club which is now in the hands of the NRL, ASADA and NSW Police. Legal constraints mean that a large portion of the evidence cannot yet be published. Suffice to say that what will unfold in coming weeks will be damning for Cronulla and, almost certainly, the Essendon AFL club. While Stephen Dank continues to maintain his innocence through a string of lawyers, it is beyond doubt that he was employed by the club when the alleged doping occurred. Dank says that checks he made with the World Anti-Doping Agency cleared his supplements program. That evidence is yet to be presented. Cronulla sources are deeply concerned about the ramifications of the ASADA investigation into the use of two peptides, both of which may have been used by cancer patient Jon Mannah. Let me stress that the intention of this newspaper's investigation is not to turn Jon Mannah into a culprit nor to distress his family in any way. Mannah may have been given substances which were, at best, questionable, and at worst, illegal under the WADA code. It is the club's own report which underlines these possible causal links. This newspaper did not contrive the wording of the report and has not sought to make any subjective comment outside the report itself. It is there in black and white from a senior counsel who said the issues were as serious as you can get. Peptides may have accelerated former prop Jon Mannah's fatal cancer, according to a new report. On Monday, ASADA will commence their interviews at Cronulla. What unfolds will almost certainly be damning for the club and for those already stood down. Club sources believe more than a dozen players are implicated along with coaching staff and others involved at the club. One club insider told me: "It will all become apparent in the next few weeks ... the extent of it." In the meantime, Dank has commenced his defamation proceedings against several media organisations in a Sydney court. Dr Peter Larkins, a leading sports medic, claims the use of the two peptides on Mannah was "indefensible." The lesson for athletes from all of this is that they should never entrust their 'supplement' regimes to anyone. One phone call to ASADA to ask about a possibly banned substance would have given them the answer. It also raises serious questions about the role of 'biochemists' and sports scientists at football clubs. While coaches and trainers search for the winning edge, some of these people become far more important cogs in the wheel than they deserve to be. Perhaps this sorry saga will send a warning to all footy clubs that not all biochemists and sports scientists are doctors. The Mannah case is desperately sad but Trish Kavanagh has brought to light a case that should put an instant halt to all supplement programs at football clubs. With a lot more to come next week, we may well be looking at a chapter in Australian sport that is indeed dark and very, very sad. THIS week's allegations will surely put paid to those who have been cheering in the corner for biochemists and sports scientists since this entire thing unravelled in early February. What happened at Cronulla is now a smaller issue than football teams employing 'experts' who have no medical degree. Every club employs people with similar qualifications in their football departments. It is becoming very apparent that the only people who should be permitted to administer any medication to a player or athlete is a highly trained sports doctor who has practised as a medic. The use of biochemists (no medical degree required for the title) and sports 'scientists' mean that it is no longer clear just who is qualified and who isn't. Clubs are on notice - go back to the good old days when the team doctor was the bloke with the bandages and the aspirin. Nobody else was allowed in the dressing room. The jury is out on the Australian cricket team selected for the Ashes tour of England. The announcement was surrounded by the usual nonsense with head of selectors, John Inverarity, having his day in the sun. He claimed they were going to England to win. That's good to hear! The only bright spot was seeing Steve Waugh and Mark Taylor flanking Michael Clarke (pictured above) at the presentation. Made me hanker for the good old days.