Bombers players not in the clear yet

Charges ... ASADA says Essendon players are not safe yet. Source: Michael Dodge / Getty Images

THE Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority says statements from the AFL regarding possible doping charges against individual players should not be taken to mean the case is closed.

AFL general counsel Andrew Dillon said on Tuesday night: "The AFL advised that in relation to Essendon players, although WADA has declared AOD-9604 is a banned substance, on the information before the AFL there is no specific anti-doping rule violation attributed to any individual player for use of AOD-9604 or any other prohibited substance.

"As such, at the present time, no infraction notices will be issued under the AFL anti-doping code."

Essendon captain Jobe Watson has said he and his fellow players felt "vindicated" by that statement.

But ASADA said the investigation was ongoing and the possibility of charges remains.

"As we have previously noted, it is a complex investigation and ASADA has a duty of care to be both thorough and accurate in every step of the process," an ASADA spokesman said.

"Should ASADA form the view at the conclusion of its investigation that a person may have committed an anti-doping rule violation, ASADA will follow its established process."

In her last public comments on the matter when handing over the interim report, ASADA boss Aurora Andruska made it clear investigations were far from complete.

"It is essential for the integrity of sport that ASADA comprehensively analyses the information it has now obtained," she said.

"ASADA's enhanced powers, which came into effect on August 1, 2013, are now available to be used to ensure all possible anti-doping violations are fully investigated and to finalise these matters as quickly and efficiently as possible."

It is not up to the AFL to initiate doping charges against players and the it was revealed last month ASADA had not started the complicated process that could lead to the issuing of doping infraction notices.

As ASADA is now interviewing Cronulla NRL players in its investigation of the use of performance-enhancing drugs, it is possible any infraction process may not begin until that is complete.

Sources close to the investigation have said poor record-keeping in the Bombers' sports science program in 2012 could make charges unlikely.

Watson said: "As we've said all along, none of us believed we'd done anything wrong in relation to the 2012 supplements program.

"We feel vindicated by this announcement and hope this helps confirm the faith of our supporters and the broader football public that, as professional sportsmen, we would never do anything to compromise the integrity of the game, our team, or our own values."

News Limited has established there is no move by the AFL to review Watson's 2012 Brownlow Medal win.

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