THE ANTI-obesity drug at the centre of the Essendon supplements scandal is a banned substance, according to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

There had been confusion surrounding the drug AOD-9604, after the Australian Crime Commission report stated it was not yet prohibited.

However, WADA issued an updated blanket ban was introduced as of January 1, 2012.

Former Bombers sports scientist Stephen Dank alleges he administered the drug to players during his time at the club.

It was believed the drug had not yet been classified, as it was not approved for human consumption.

But WADA has issued a statement to the contrary, claiming any unclassified substances fell under a blanket ban.

"AOD-9604 is a substance still under pre-clinical and clinical development and has not been approved for therapeutic use by any government health authority in the world," the statement read.

"Therefore, under the 2013 Prohibited Substances and Methods List, the substance falls into the S.0 category which states:

'Any pharmacological substance which is not addressed by any of the subsequent sections of the List and with no current approval by any governmental regulatory health authority for human therapeutic use (e.g drugs under pre-clinical or clinical development or discontinued, designer drugs, substances approved only for veterinary use) is prohibited at all times'."

Jacqui Reed is a reporter at AFL Media. Follow her on Twitter @JacquiReedAFL