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Essendon players have reportedly been issued with show-cause notices by the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA).
News Corp Australia is reporting ASADA served the notices on players on Thursday following a 16-month probe into the club’s 2012 supplements program.
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.
Essendon announced on February 5 last year that they were to be investigated under a joint AFL and ASADA inquiry.
In August last year, the AFL heavily penalised Essendon, kicking them out of the finals and suspending coach James Hird for 12 months among other punishments.
But the ASADA investigation has been ongoing.
Also last year, 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”.
Earlier on Thursday, Essendon chairman Paul Little addressed the ASADA issue in a letter to members.
“Unfortunately there has not been any significant developments or relevant information made available to the Club in recent weeks,” he said.
“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.”
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