THE AFL was informed last year that an Essendon official had made inquiries about peptides - the substances at the centre of the club's scandal - at a sports medicine conference 12 months ago, according to former Brownlow medallist and AFL commentator Gerard Healy.

Healy said that he notified the AFL's then general manager of football operations Adrian Anderson, about the inquiry by the Essendon official, which Healy said was merely one of ''concern'' rather than any attempt to procure it.

Gerard Healy. Credit:Getty Images

Healy was spoken to by AFL integrity officer Brett Clothier, who is heading the AFL's part in the joint investigation with the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority into Essendon's possible use of performing-enhancing drugs. Former player Kyle Reimers said the players were told the substances were ''right at the borderline'' .

As the Bombers confessed their concerns about the supplements their players had taken - believed to be peptides administered via injections - they suspended Dean ''The Weapon'' Robinson, the man who headed their conditioning program last year.