NRL boss Dave Smith says he has received assurances WADA are content with the 12 month back-dated bans handed to 12 past and present Cronulla players over their inadvertent involvement in the club’s 2011 supplements program.

Smith confirmed on Saturday the 12 players had accepted suspensions back-dated to November 23 last year.

But he dismissed reports the World Anti-Doping Authority could move to challenge the validity of the bans or even act to lengthen them.

“My understanding is that ASADA and WADA have worked in close collaboration to get to this point,” Smith said.

“Now clearly WADA won’t have received all of the details for all of the files, we only received those details last night as part of players being put on the register of findings.

“But my understanding, and in close cooperation with (ASADA boss) Ben (McDevitt) and with the WADA team, is that they are understanding and supportive in principle as to where we find ourselves today.

“ASADA have been working in close cooperation and I have been talking to Ben regularly with WADA to make sure that the processes have been aligned and they are clear in principle with where we find ourselves today.”

The 12 past and present players to have accepted the bans are Paul Gallen, Wade Graham, Anthony Tupou, Nathan Gardener, John Morris, Jeremy Smith, Kade Snowden, Matthew Wright, Albert Kelly, Luke Douglas, Josh Cordoba and Broderick Wright.

Smith also revealed controversial biochemist Stephen Dank had been banned from the NRL over his role in the Sharks’ 2011 supplements program.