Interesting to note highlighted bottom of article, do the AFL or the club know which players have been hit with a show cause notice.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-06-12/essendon-players-handed-show-cause-notices-by-asada/5519856
The Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) has issued 34 past and present AFL players, some from the Essendon Bombers, with show-cause notices regarding the possible use of prohibited substances during the 2012 AFL season.
ASADA hit the players with the news on Thursday afternoon, 16 months after an investigation was launched.
Any players or officials found guilty of doping offences face suspension from all sport, but the process of deciding whether anyone is guilty could take years, with legal action a certainty.
The Bombers have been the most high-profile case, with the club's 2012 supplements program a focal point of the investigation.
The club announced on February 5 last year it was to be investigated under a joint AFL and ASADA inquiry.
Possible punishments for players have been an ongoing subplot for almost a year-and-a-half as rumours swirled about the suspension of former head coach James Hird and the timeframe for his return.
The players who have been handed notices have 10 days to respond, proving they did not take banned substances.
Essendon/ASADA investigation: timeline
Those charged will then front the AFL Tribunal, with a two-year ban on the cards for any player found to have used a prohibited substance.
It is understood today's notices do not have anything to do with the possible use of anti-obesity drug AOD-9604, which club captain Jobe Watson (who is currently facing a lengthy period on the sidelines through injury) last year admitted to taking.
In August last year, the AFL handed down a raft of punishments for the Bombers, including; banning the from the 2013 finals, suspending head coach Hird for 12 months, fining the club $2 million and stripping them of picks in the 2013 and 2014 drafts.
Essendon had their own investigation into the supplements program.
Investigator Ziggy Switkowski reported "a disturbing picture of a pharmacologically experimental environment never adequately controlled or challenged or documented within the club".
It would appear the notices took the club by surprise with chairman Paul Little saying in a club statement on Thursday: "This investigation has now been running for the best part of 16 months and unfortunately there has not been any significant developments or relevant information made available to the club in recent weeks.
"Our players are still carrying the heavy burden of continued speculation in the media with no concrete timetable for the ASADA process to conclude – this has been incredibly frustrating for us all.
"However, I can confirm we are exploring all legal options for our players in the unlikely event they receive show cause letters from ASADA - we make no apologies for that."
The AFL will not comment, given ASADA only sent the show-cause notices to the individuals concerned.
ASADA does not deal with the AFL or the Essendon club at this stage of the process.
