ESSENDON says any allegations about connections to underworld figure Mick Gatto are 'false' and have reported 'inappropriate demands and threats' to the AFL's integrity department and Victoria Police.
The Dons deny reports that the club reached out to Gatto to obtain information relating to the doping scandal.
Two former Essendon employees - including dual premiership player Dean Wallis - have reportedly made the claim as part of a Worksafe action against the club.
In addition to the allegations involving 61-year-old Melbourne identity Gatto, Wallis and former team services manager John Elliott also claimed to have removed emails and covered up fraud, cocaine use and sexual harassment, News Corp reports.
The claims come two weeks before the Bombers' season opener on March 25 as the club attempts to move on from the saga which saw several high-profile players serve year-long doping bans last year.
"I have been scapegoated in relation to the supplement program, while others at the club have been covering up the use of cocaine, sexual harassment and fraudulent behaviour," Wallis, also a former assistant coach at the club, alleged in his statement.
The meeting with Gatto was allegedly to obtain information from Shane Charter, the former bodybuilder linked to Stephen Dank who decided not to give evidence to an anti-doping tribunal at the last minute.
"In November 2014 I was asked ... to set up a meeting off-site with Mick Gatto, who was an external well-known dispute resolution specialist,'' Elliott alleged.
"The purpose of the meeting was in regard to obtaining information from Shane Charter, who was a supplier to Stephen Dank."
Essendon boss Lindsay Tanner dismissed the allegations as the acts of 'disgruntled ex-employees'.
"Two disgruntled ex-employees have made a number of false and unsubstantiated allegations against the club," Tanner told News Corp.
"Allegations of ... dealings with Mick Gatto are false. Inappropriate demands and threats made upon Essendon Football Club have been reported to the AFL integrity department and on its advice, Victoria Police have been contacted."
