The Australian Anti Doping Authority’s (ASADA) investigation into the alleged use of prohibited substances by NRL clubs has been bolstered by the addition of 10 extra staff.

The news came just hours after the chairman of Cronulla, one of the clubs who are being probed, quit following claims he made to a Sunday newspaper.

Damian Irvine resigned after almost four years in the role, having alleged that Sharks players had been injected with “equine substances”.

The comments came less than 48 hours after Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan was stood down and four of the club’s backroom staff were sacked.

An explosive board meeting on Tuesday ended in Irvine’s removal, with local property developer Glenn Coleman, who represented the club more than 120 times between 1986 and 1994, taking over.

ARL Commission chief executive Dave Smith and chairman John Grant were informed of the investigation’s extra manpower at a meeting with federal government and opposition ministers to discuss extra funding for the game.

“It’s been a very valuable set of meetings,” Smith said.

“From the moment I took on the role it was always the intention to set aside a meeting day in Canberra with John.

“Clearly the ASADA investigation was certainly a talking point.

“We’re pleased today to hear the government has confirmed that ASADA will receive additional resources.

“We fully support the ASADA investigation and that’s why we want to ensure the resources are in place to deal with the issues in as timely and thorough a manner as possible.”

The Sharks are still reeling from last Friday’s developments and the players were given the day off by interim coach Peter Sharp.

ASADA investigators have still not interviewed any of Cronulla’s players.

And a club insider said it’s unlikely they’ll be allowed to – which is the Sharks’ legal right.

Coleman gave little indication as to when or if Flanagan will be reinstated, but said the club’s biggest focus will be the welfare of the 14 players caught up in the probe.

“The board made some decisions last week which we stand by and our energy now is on the interests of the playing group,” Coleman said.

“Our energy and focus now has to be in assisting our players tangled up with ASADA.

“We have a review in place at the moment which we will want to get through as quickly as possible.

“I am worried about our players. We have a lot who are affected by this. We need to support them 100 per cent.”

After announcing his resignation, Irvine conceded he shouldn’t have made his controversial comments.

“That conversation I had I won’t back away from,” he said.

“But it wasn’t an interview in a calm situation. It was a middle of the night conversation after quite a bit of badgering.

“It wasn’t sensible to make those comments and I’ll take responsibility for those.”

Former Brisbane CEO Bruno Cullen, who will take over the day-to-day running of the club, will return to Toyota Stadium on Friday to begin his new job.

Manly, who are also caught up in the investigation, issued a statement on Wednesday to deny ASADA had requested the opportunity to speak to their players.

“ASADA has previously told us they may want to question players and club staff as part of their wider investigation into previous practices,” said general manager David Perry.

“But we haven’t received any notification beyond that.”