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AFLPA chief executive Paul Marsh had announced on Thursday morning that there would be no response to ASADA’s show cause notices.
The association called on ASADA to speed up the process by taking the matter to the Anti-Doping Violation Panel within seven days.
Marsh said it would be “simply unacceptable” for the saga to extend into a third AFL season.
“In the event that ASADA is not able to meet that timeline, ASADA has been requested to simultaneously provide the AFL General Counsel and the players’ legal team with all the documentation and evidentiary material it has in this matter so that the matter can be dealt with in accordance with the AFL Anti-Doping Code,” Marsh said.
But ASADA is unimpressed with the association’s request.
“ASADA has written to the players’ lawyer to remind him that the demands are inconsistent with the mandatory provisions of the National Anti-Doping scheme and as such, ASADA is unable to agree to them,” the anti-doping body said in its statement.
“ASADA reminded the players’ lawyer that the ADRVP is a separate and independent body to ASADA and the CEO has no legal power to direct the function of the ADRVP or to dictate the timing of its consideration of cases.
“ASADA also reminded the players’ lawyer that a number of their demands for fast-tracking the process were within the control of the AFL, and not ASADA.
“The CEO of ASADA does not have the power to direct the AFL to expedite anti-doping cases before its tribunal.”
ASADA issued original show cause notices in June to 34 current and past Essendon players.
Essendon and coach James Hird then launched Federal Court action against ASADA.
After those legal challenges failed, the anti-doping body went ahead earlier this month with amended show cause notices.
Hird is appealing against the Federal Court finding, but the club has accepted the verdict.
“It was appropriate for ASADA to delay the delivery of evidence in these matters until a judgment was handed down,” the anti-doping body said.
“In the normal course of events, the comprehensive summary of evidence provided to players in the amended show cause notices in October would have been available to players back in July.
“ASADA is as keen as anyone to finalise these matters, but it will not risk the proper consideration of these serious matters for the sake of speed.”
ASADA added the players have until October 27 to respond to the show cause notices.
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