I was injected twice: James Hird

Admission ... Essendon coach James Hird. Source: Wayne Ludbey / News Limited

Essendon coach James Hird will reveal he received two injections from disgraced sports scientist Stephen Dank - but only for health reasons.

The Herald Sun is reporting that Hird will tell anti-doping authorities he believed the jabs - administered around March last year - were harmless and legal amino acids.

It comes as new details emerge of the discussions between the Essendon coach and Dank relating to player supplement use.

A source close to Hird said he would meet Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority investigators on Tuesday and tell them he took the injections because he was feeling ill.

Dank has claimed he injected Hird with Hexarelin, which was banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency in 2004, and that Hird and other coaches took Melanotan II, which has a tanning effect and could also function as an aphrodisiac.

Hird, set to coach the Bombers in Perth on Friday night, has fiercely denied taking WADA-banned substances.

He said the claims were "obviously ... very upsetting".

"I just can't wait to get in and talk to ASADA and the AFL ... I can't wait to clear my name," Hird said.

As the multiple investigations continue into the contentious supplement program, it can be revealed the Bombers in February employed criminal lawyer Tony Hargreaves to conduct a separate investigation to the one currently being done by Ziggy Switkowski.

Essendon officials are desperately trying to insulate the players from the controversy before Friday's Fremantle clash, with captain Jobe Watson denying the club was in turmoil.
 
Hird sat in business class on the four-hour flight to Perth with chief executive Ian Robson and president David Evans but was taken through an airport side entrance to avoid the cameras.

As pressure mounted on the club, emails obtained by the Herald Sun show Hird will tell investigators he set out strong governance over the use of supplements.

The besieged Bombers coach will deny he put the welfare of the players in jeopardy, and that in fact he put strict rules in place for Dank, high-performance manager Dean Robinson and club doctor Bruce Reid.

The email says he had three conditions.

THE supplements must not harm the players.

THEY must not be illegal (according to WADA and ASADA drug guidelines).

THE club must get player consent.

Hird, who has maintained the belief players did not take performance-enhancing drugs, wanted the ASADA investigation completed before the season started.

AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou said he was disturbed by the latest drug revelations.

"As a parent, and not just the CEO of the AFL, the issues as reported surrounding the potential use of various substances is something that is disturbing, very disturbing, particularly when we are talking about the health and welfare of young men," Mr Demetriou said.

He said coaches could be punished under the ASADA code.

"It's very clear. If any coach or official puts the duty of care of their players at risk, then they will be held accountable," he said.

"Coaches can be captured under the WADA code; the rules are very specific surrounding coaches and their influence over players in the taking of illegal substances on the WADA list.

"We need to allow investigators to complete their investigation so we can get to the bottom of all these allegations and get to the truth."

Evans said Hird would continue to coach the team.

"The board will not be making a decision about these allegations today, and it is extremely important James and others be afforded both the opportunity to talk to ASADA and the basic right to natural justice.

"James Hird is a person who has the respect of this club and the football community, and the board will not be making decisions about the next steps until the process of the ... investigation takes its course."

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