Penrith chief executive Warren Wilson has questioned former player Sandor Earl’s allegation that an official from the NRL club was behind the winger’s first meeting with controversial sports scientist Stephen Dank.
Earl was last month issued an infraction notice, having admitted to the use and trafficking of banned substance CJC-1295.
In an interview with the Nine Network on Thursday, Earl alleged that Panthers’ strength and conditioning staff Matt Ryan and Carl Jennings told the players in 2011 that Dank was “consulting with the club … and helping with our programs”.
Earl added that he was introduced to Dank by the club’s strength and conditioning coach.
Wilson was adamant on Friday that Dank was “never a paid employee or consultant of the club”.
“From what I’ve been able to find out, he came up in late 2010 and early 2011 and was pushing Hypoxi – which is oxygen training equipment,” he added.
“The club rejected it.
“… Did he have an official role at the club? No.
“It’s already been on the record that the methodology (of Dank) was to either get an official role with a club and, if that wasn’t successful, then he made contact with individuals.”
Wilson revealed the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) had requested an interview with Ryan, but labelled Earl’s recollection of events as mere opinion.
“That’s what Sandor said last night (that he was introduced to Dank at Penrith by one of their employees), but is that in fact what happened? That’s one person’s opinion,” he said.
“… I had a conversation with him (Ryan) and, at the request of ASADA, there’s a meeting set up.
“… I feel for Matt and I hope he has done nothing wrong. And he tells me he’s done nothing wrong.
“Until that’s proven otherwise, he has the benefit of the presumption of innocence.”
Jennings is a former British shot put champion, who subsequently joined ex-Penrith coach Matt Elliott at the Warriors.
In addition to Elliott and Jennings, the club also has a new doctor, CEO and general manager of rugby league since Earl’s transgression.
Wilson said the invoices for Earl’s peptide injections came from a registered doctor and were put through Medicare, hence they failed to arouse suspicion and “passed the reasonable person test”.
“Penrith paid the invoices. Penrith did not know, according to those we’ve been able to talk to, that he was going off-site to do any of the things he did,” he said.
Wilson rejected the suggestion the club had failed Earl, and wouldn’t comment on potential legal action against the 24-year-old.
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