Stephen Dank, the controversial sports scientist at the centre of the Essendon Bombers doping scandal, has been shot at his home in Ascot Vale in the north-west of Melbourne.
Police say that, at around 2.30am, shots were fired at the front of the 52-year-old’s house. Dank suffered a grazed forehead, and was later seen walking himself to an ambulance.
He was taken to Royal Melbourne Hospital in stable condition. Police say another person was in the house at the time, but this person was not hurt in the incident.
A crime scene has been set up at the house, but no arrests have yet been made. A neighbour told ABC News:
“We’ve got dogs that would bark at the slightest noise, they didn’t go off last night, so whatever happened was pretty quiet. I did not see anything, I heard nothing.”
Per reports in The Age, shots were fired through an upstairs window. The property faces a reserve and police are reportedly searching the area for clues.
Last year, Dank was handed a lifetime ban from working in the AFL by the AFL Anti-Doping Tribunal for his role in the Essendon affair, as well as charges relating to the trafficking of illegal supplements to other clubs.
Anyone with information relating to the shooting is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Photo: Quinn Rooney / Getty.
