15 Mar 2013

Toovey says Manly has nothing to hide

7:11 am on 15 March 2013

The Manly coach Geoff Toovey maintains the National Rugby League club has nothing to hide from the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority despite reports of players receiving off-site injections of calves blood.

The claims come less than 24 hours after Darren Hibbert, a supplier to controversial sports scientist Stephen Dank, claimed 20 NRL players independently purchased supplements from the back of his car.

Toovey, who is preparing his side to face Newcastle at Brookvale on Sunday night, says he's not been updated by ASADA officials or by the NRL about the probe and will treat all claims as speculation until told otherwise.

Calves blood, which is officially known as Actovegin, is not a banned substance and was cleared by ASADA when the Sea Eagles first used it in 2009.

However, it was reportedly used on players - without the knowledge of the Sea Eagles' club doctor - at the home of Josh Perry, who now plays for English Super League side St Helens.

Toovey says the club is unaware of such practices but no longer used Actovegin as there was no scientific evidence it worked.