North Melbourne coach Brad Scott has launched a spirited defence of his AFL club’s medical procedures following revelations stood-down Melbourne doctor Dan Bates worked at the Kangaroos for a year.

Bates stepped aside from his role at the Demons last week after links with former Essendon sports scientist Stephen Dank – the man central to the wider Australian sports anti-doping investigation – were uncovered.

Months of alleged text messages between Bates and Dank have been revealed from the time Bates was involved with Melbourne.

Scott says the Kangaroos have no concerns about their supplement program during 2011, when Bates was involved with the club.

He says North asked Bates for written assurances he had not consulted with Dank during his time at the Kangaroos.

“Once the news broke about the link between Dr Dan Bates and Stephen Dank, we made contact with Dan and sought a written assurance that he’d had no contact with Stephen Dank in his time here as an employee,” Scott said on Wednesday.

“He’s since provided that in writing that he’s had no contact there.

“So we welcome any potential investigation as to Dan’s role while he was our doctor here.”

Scott said during his four seasons at the Kangaroos, the club doctor always had the final say on medical matters, not sports scientists.

He also said the Kangaroos had been transparent with the AFL from the start of their anti-doping investigations, and the league had assured the club it was “really confident” in North’s medical processes.

“We were very proactive in speaking to the AFL when all of this came to light … we’ve been open and honest and we’ve disclosed absolutely everything to the AFL, so we have no concerns.”