(d) AOD-9604 creams and (e) AOD-9604 injections: AOD-9604 is a synthetic peptide developed as an anti-obesity drug at Monash University in the 1990s. Professor Gary Wittert, at the University of Adelaide, has led five out of the six studies on AOD-9604 carried out in humans, including a six-month study funded by Metabolic Pharmaceuticals, the company that developed it. He recently said on ABC radio that the drug had no effect in weight loss and the trials were abandoned. Despite some anecdotal reports that it can build muscle, Wittert says he has been unable to find any data to support this. Indeed, he says the drug was specifically designed not to have anabolic effects. In a statement released earlier this year, Metabolic's parent company Calzada said the obesity program was abandoned in 2007 as trials did not show ''a clinically meaningful weight loss outcome''. Regarding anabolic effects, it said previous pre-clinical trials ''provide clear scientific and medical evidence that AOD-9604 does not increase insulin-like Growth Factor 1. Furthermore, there is no evidence that AOD-9604 dosing increases the number of muscle or cartilage cells.'' AOD-9604's status with WADA has been a matter of controversy from the start. The Australian Crime Commission report initially stated that AOD-9604 was not banned and it is alleged that Essendon may have been told that, which may have led club doctor Bruce Reid to approve its use as part of the supplement program. However, WADA has stated that AOD-9604 is a banned substance under Section S0 of its code, which states that any pharmacological substance not addressed by any sections of the prohibited list and with no current approval by any governmental regulatory health authority for human therapeutic use is prohibited. The ACC subsequently published a statement that while AOD-9604 was not banned under S2 as it was advised, it is banned under S0. (f) Cerebrolysin: is a mixture of peptides extracted from pig brain that supports the development and function of nerve cells. It is claimed to be helpful in the treatment of Alzheimer's and vascular dementia. In theory cerebrolysin may enhance mental function in athletes, although there is no good evidence that it has any effect in healthy individuals. It is not approved for use in Australia and thus is banned under S0.

(g) Colostrum: is the very early form of milk secreted late in pregnancy and in the first few days after birth. It contains a mixture of nutrients, antibodies and growth factors which are important to a newborn's health and development, though its effects in adults are less clear. There is little evidence that colostrum consumption (typically cow colostrum) improves the immune status of athletes. According to WADA, Colostrum is not prohibited per se, but it contains certain quantities of IGF-1 and other growth factors that are prohibited and can influence the outcome of anti-doping tests. WADA does not recommend its ingestion. Australian athletes have previously been strongly advised not to use colostrum. (h) Blacked out on the AFL charge sheet. (i) Lactaway: contains pycnogenol which is a natural extract from the bark of a French maritime pine (Pinus Pinaster). A 2012 research paper suggests it improves endurance. A co-author of that paper was a Stephen Dank from the School of Pharmacology, University of Sydney. Essendon's dietitian Benita Lalor told the club there was no evidence of beneficial effects. It does not contain prohibited substances and is not banned. (j) Lube-All-Plus: is a dietary supplement used to treat joint problems. It contains a mixture of hyaluronic acid, chondroitin and glucosamine, which are alleged to have some benefit for joint problems such as arthritis. None of these ingredients are banned. (k) Melatonin: is a hormone produced by the pineal gland that is used for jet lag. There have been suggestions it may help the body's immune system. It is also thought to assist sleep. It is not banned.

(l) Melanotan II: is a synthetic chemical hormone used by tablet or injection as a tanning agent. It can be bought over the internet and is popular particularly among young women wanting to improve their tan without exposure to UV rays. It has been suggested that it may be helpful in promoting weight loss. Side effects include increased sex drive, reduced appetite, nausea and flushes. In 2011, Britain's regulatory agency warned the public not to inject the synthetic hormone. ''Don't be fooled into thinking Melanotan offers a shortcut to a safer and more even tan. The safety of these products is unknown and they are unlicensed here,'' a spokesman said at the time. ''The side effects could be extremely serious.'' It is not approved for use in Australia, and thus is banned by WADA under S0. (m) TA-65: is the registered trade name for a telomerase activator derived from the Austragalus plant. It is promoted as an anti-ageing drug. There is limited research to prove its efficacy and safety. Its WADA status is unclear, but it could be argued that it also comes under S0. (n) Thymosin Beta 4: (TB-4) is a naturally occurring protein found in blood platelets, which play a role in the repair and regeneration of injured tissues. It has also been used to treat horses and been implicated in horse doping. There are theoretical reasons why this drug may be helpful to athletes, but there is no published evidence that TB-4 produces any benefit. It was added to the WADA banned list in 2011. (o) Traumeel: is used in treatment of musculoskeletal injuries occasionally in conjunction with Actovegin. There is some evidence that it is helpful and it is permitted by WADA. (p) Tribulus: Tribulus terrestris, also known as puncture vine, is a herb used in the traditional medicine of China and India for centuries. It is most often used for infertility, erectile dysfunction, and low libido. It became popular among athletes in the mid-1990s, after eastern European Olympic athletes said taking it helped their performance. Research has failed to show any benefit. It is not banned by WADA.

Two other drugs are mentioned as having been stored at the club and possibly given to staff and players. Hexarelin is a growth hormone-releasing peptide and is banned by WADA, while SARM-22 (one of the Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators), has been promoted as an alternative to anabolic steroids and is also banned by WADA. It would appear that the AFL, acting on the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority's interim report, believes that Essendon players have been injected with a number of substances, some of which are prohibited by WADA. The question, then, is why have the players not been charged with taking banned substances. The explanation would appear to be that due to the lack of records at Essendon, ASADA is unable to determine which players received which drugs and is therefore reluctant to initiate charges which will no doubt be challenged in court. Loading So it is somewhat ironic that poor record keeping, an area for which Essendon has been strongly criticised, could actually be what saves the players from suspensions.