The board chair of the Cronulla Sharks has quit his post, in the middle of an anti-doping investigation at the Australian Rugby League club.
Damian Irvine has been at the centre of controversy since he told a Sunday newspaper Sharks players had been injected with what he called equine substances.
His comments put him at odds with the rest of the board, with the deputy chair Keith Ward saying the sacking of five staff was not related to any alleged doping practices at the club.
Mr Ward says the dismissals were about serious management failures.
But Irvine claims in the interview that those stood down or sacked had knowledge of illegal practices for some time but did not inform the board.
