CONTROVERSIAL sports scientist Stephen Dank has launched defamation cases against the Cronulla Sharks and Channel 9 over claims he injected players with illegal drugs.

Dank's lawyers, Cambridge Law, yesterday filed claims in the NSW Supreme Court against both the TV broadcaster and NRL club, whose chairman Damien Irvine was accused of making false statements "to the effect that he injected Sharks players with horse drugs”.

In a media statement this morning, Dank's solicitor Raed Rahal said the claim was that the Sharks club was "legally responsible" for Irvine's words.

Irvine quit his job as the beleaguered club's chairman earlier this month after telling the Sunday Telegraph that Sharks staff had failed to notify the board about illicit drug practices dating back to 2011.

Dank, who worked briefly with the club that year, has denied any wrongdoing - including allegations he gave blood-thinning substance Warfarin to Cronulla players.

"I have done nothing illegal with any club in the NRL," he previously told News Limited.

"All this (doping allegations) upsets me deeply because it is not true. I am not a doping scientist or a cheat."

Dank's lawyers last month issued a statement announcing that he would launch a $10m defamation suit against various media outlets.

"The claims arise out of false allegations in the media that the plaintiffs have sold illegal drugs to sportspeople," the statement said.

The cases against the Sharks and Channel 9 will first be heard in court next month.



Originally published as Dank sues Sharks, Nine over claims