UNDERWORLD figure Mick Gatto says he was enlisted by the key witness in ASADA’s case against Essendon players to help sell information that could clear the Bombers of anti-doping charges.

Gatto claimed he offered biochemist Shane Charter’s untold story to media, including 60 Minutes, for up to $400,000, but that there had been “no interest”.

The club had also been approached about whether it would be interested in the apparently favourable evidence, Gatto said.

Doping hearings against 34 current and former Bombers could be pushed back to January as a dispute brews over how much of the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority’s evidence they should be provided with. A tribunal start date of December 15 has been tentatively set.

MORE: Gatto and Mundine get in the ring

INDUSTRIAL: Gatto joins fight against RDOs

Gatto told the Herald Sun yesterday that Charter had asked for his help to sell his story, and that the biochemist was also shopping new evidence to the Bombers.

Asked if Charter wanted cash from Essendon for the evidence, Gatto said: “He wanted to be paid for it.”

media_camera Shane Charter.

Gatto said he would have taken a cut of any deal: “That was the reason I was in it. I’m not an Essendon supporter, I’m a Collingwood supporter.

“I didn’t talk to anyone there (Essendon) directly. I just spoke to media. They were approached by different people.”

Essendon would not comment last night. Charter could not be reached.

Gatto said Charter “can prove the substance he bought was legal. They (ASADA) were saying it was a (banned) peptide but in fact he could prove that it wasn’t”.

Charter was due to complete a review of his evidence with ASADA and sign a witness statement yesterday.

He remains undecided about whether he will appear in person at tribunal hearings.

The current and former players have been slapped with infraction notices alleging they were administered the banned peptide Thymosin beta-4 by former Essendon sports ­scientist Stephen Dank.

Dank denies this, and claims the players were given a permitted type of Thymosin, known as Thymomodulin.

The AFL Anti-Doping Tribunal is yet to decide whether the hearings will be open to media.

Dank said last night he was still weighing up whether to take on the AFL in his own case, but said he would not be “dictated to” by the league.

stephen.drill@news.com.au