Email shows Flanagan was warned of Dank injections

Sacked Cronulla doctor David Givney warned coach Steve Flanagan about Stephen Dank's supplement program seven weeks before the controversial sports scientist was sacked by the club.

News Ltd acquired a copy of the email which is being used as part of an independent assessment into Cronulla's use of performance-enhancing peptides during the first half of the 2011 season.

Givney urged Flanagan, in the email, to put a stop to all the injections in an impassioned plea to the coach.

It becomes very obvious that Givney had little faith in Dank and wanted his association with the club to end.

"My idea over the past many years is that the medical team is best 'seen and not heard'. Until now," the email read.

"I spoke to Steve Danks (sic) last night. He said he was shocked that I had any concerns about his activities, assured me that he held the medical profession in the highest regard and blamed Konrad (Schultz) for not telling me what was going on. (hmmm ... )

"He wasn't in a position to tell me at that time what was in the injections the players have been getting.

"The person doing the injecting wasn't medically trained but was part of 'his team'.

"He was unaware of any allergies, medical problems etc of any of the players being injected (oh dear ... )."

Despite 25 years of service with the club, and his early warnings to end any injections, Giveny was one of four club officials sacked. The others were physiotherapist Konrad Schultz, head trainer Mark Noakes and football manager Darren Mooney for "serious management failures".

Also in the email Givney urged Flanagan to contact ex-Wallbies doctor Martin Rafferty.

Rafferty believed Dank was 'destructive' through his previous dealings with him.

Givney ended the email in no uncertain terms.

"You can't keep a secret in footy. We will get asked sooner or later and the last thing the Sharks need is another shit headline.

"Konrad overheard plans to be giving Actovegin sometime this week - this is calves blood extract and can't be allowed to happen!

"Sorry for the rant but I was up all night thinking of how best to go about this.

"Please ring Raftery for an outside opinion and then we can stop this madness and get back to footy."

Flanagan responded to Givney in his own mail stating, "Thanks mate, I will knock it on the head today. No injection no anything. Thanks for your patience and help."

More questions though will now be raised about how Dank continued working with the Sharks until May 29, seven weeks after Givney's initial concerns were raised in email.