ASADA has been conducting off-season blood testing in attempts to catch drug cheats. Source: Supplied
At least two NRL clubs implicated in the Australian Crime Commission doping report were targeted with blood tests over the off-season.
The Daily Telegraph can reveal Penrith and Canberra players were intensively tested by ASADA officers, with a Panthers source claiming: "It was like they knew what they were looking for."
ASADA only began blood testing NRL players on a limited basis two years ago, although the frequency increased significantly last year.
With urine tests now unable to detect cutting-edge performance enhancing drugs, the advent of blood testing has given ASADA the chance to finger cheats because it can now cross-reference samples for suspicious changes in hormone levels.
And that's why no player or club can rest easy, despite no positive tests having been recorded across the code.
The Daily Telegraph has learned selected Raiders players were blood tested on two occasions this summer, before and after Christmas.
And Penrith have also confirmed a targeted blood testing session at Centrebet Stadium last month.
Conversely, players from the Tigers, Roosters and Eels - clubs not implicated - have reported no change in ASADA testing compared to previous off-seasons.
The current ASADA investigation centres on links between sports scientist Stephen Dank and players who've been contracted to clubs - Manly, Cronulla and Penrith - that Dank previously consulted for. In addition to Newcastle, those three clubs had their sports science records audited last week.
Canberra and North Queensland, however, weren't raided, suggesting their issues relate to any players recruited from one of the clubs that used Dank.
The Cowboys are furious, describing their link to the investigation as "tentative".
Canberra have been told they are an "isolated case".
The Dank link deepened when Cronulla issued a statement confirming their part in the investigation focuses on "a short period of time in 2011".
That year Dank spent a month at the club before falling out with Sharks doctor David Givney over his practices.
The investigation could extend further forward should it be found that any players maintained contact with Dank after he left the club.
Manly officials intend to ask their players that question, with Dank finishing up at Brookvale at the end 2010.
Manly and Cronulla have declared no positive tests, but that's irrelevant as these investigations are based on other intelligence.
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