STEPHEN Dank has claimed he helped access drugs to be used by up to 12 Melbourne players in 2012.

The injection of drugs took place between November 2012 and late January 2013, just months after Dank was sacked by Essendon.

Dank said the drugs were “similar in nature’’ to what he gave the Essendon players.

The Demons have previously confirmed an injection program took place at that time and the substances ­injected were vitamin B, C and glutathione, an antioxidant.

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The AFL on Tuesday night was adamant Dank did not play a role in the Melbourne program.

But Dank said he basically took the Bombers’ supplement blueprint to the Demons, which included Thymomo-dulin, the drug Dank claimed he gave to Essendon players, but which ASADA, and now WADA, insists was Thymosin Beta 4.

Dank was a consultant to the Demons for three months.

Dank worked closely with former Melbourne doctor Dan Bates, who was stood down by the Demons in April 2013 because of his dealings with Dank.

The controversial sports scientist said on Tuesday: “I didn’t directly supply them in this case, but I helped access them. I ordered them.’’

Asked if one of the drugs was Thymosin, he said. ‘’No. It was Thymomodulin.’’

Despite denials from Melbourne and the AFL, Dank yesterday said Melbourne’s program was similar to Essendon’s.

“They were similar in nature as to what was used at Essendon,” Dank said.

Dank said he was paid expenses by the Demons, although the Demons said they had no records of any money transfers to Dank.

An AFL spokesman said: “The AFL is aware of a number of players receiving vitamin injections at a medical clinic under the supervision of a doctor at the clinic.

“These injections or the contents were not provided by Mr Dank. The injections were not given by Mr Dank.”

The Demons said on Tuesday night: “Every supplement included in the club’s supplement regimen was approved by the club ­doctor and is in accordance with all ASADA and WADA guidelines.’’

Dank said he had a list of players names — he said up to 12 — who were scheduled to be injected with the drugs he ordered.

Dank, who will contest the guilty findings and resultant life ban imposed by the AFL Anti-Doping Tribunal for his role in the Essendon supplements scandal, scoffed at previous report that he wasn’t part of Melbourne’s sports science system.

“I have an email at home welcoming me to the club,” he said.

He says he has another email from former director of sports performance Neil Craig, who is now at Essendon, but would not elaborate on its content.

While the AFL’s integrity department and ASADA found Melbourne did not have a case to answer, questions remain about how deep Dank’s infiltration into the Demons was.

As revealed in the Herald Sun on Monday, Dank had established contact with Bates as early as March 2012.

Text messages between Dank and Bates speak of AOD-9604, Thymomodulin and Cerebrolysin.

In August 2012, Dank sent a text to Bates that appeared to criticise Essendon.

“They stopped listening to me properly eight weeks ago and got what they deserved ... won’t be back next year.”

In September, Dank told Bates that Cerebrolysin “had our bloods really recovering and powering”.

Also in September, Bates asked: “Have you got any Thymomodulin I can get access to?”

Dank replied, “Of course, mate. Ring me on your break.”