AFL CHIEF executive Gillon McLachlan has insisted no deal was ever negotiated by the AFL to ensure Essendon players would avoid punishment.
It has been revealed over 50 emails between the AFL and Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority were sent between February and March last year as the saga began unfolding publicly.
McLachlan said those emails didn't contain any special deal for the players to avoid sanction and he didn't know what ASADA's evidence was.
"We worked through with ASADA, a framework that was put to the players about how the investigation was going to run, how the interviews were going to run and what sanctions were available under the code," McLachlan told 3AW.
"That's what that referred to.
"The agreement that was read to the players about how the process was going to run and how the code worked and what was available."
McLachlan said he was frustrated by the AFL's lack of "visibility" and felt that the current system was broken.
He said he had spoken to ASADA boss Ben McDevitt but so far was getting little direct information.
"There are discussions going which we're not party to at the moment between ASADA and the players and their representatives," he said.
"We haven't seen the evidence and that's what everyone's waiting on.
"This is the challenge ... with respect to the discussions with the players, the evidence against them on the basis of the show-cause notices I have no visibility."
McLachlan said he felt for the players and hoped it could be resolved as soon as possible.
"I feel dreadfully for the players here, and I think this is incredibly challenging," he said on Friday.
"We have to get through it, and when we do, the system will be reviewed."
Meanwhile, Western Bulldogs president Peter Gordon has called on ASADA to withdraw the show-cause notices it sent to the players.
"In my view, the appropriate cause of action is for ASADA to withdraw those show-cause notices," Gordon told ABC radio.
While some senior club figures have been vocal in their disapproval of the Bombers since last week's decision to head to the Federal Court, Gordon, a professional lawyer, said the Bombers had accepted their club-based penalties in 2013.
"There has been reference to other club presidents that Essendon should cop its right whack, well, it did in my opinion. It copped its right whack last year," Gordon said.
Meanwhile, Western Bulldogs president Peter Gordon has called on ASADA to withdraw the show-cause notices it sent to the players.
"In my view, the appropriate cause of action is for ASADA to withdraw those show-cause notices," Gordon told ABC radio.
While some senior club figures have been vocal in their disapproval of the Bombers since last week's decision to head to the Federal Court, Gordon, a professional lawyer, said the Bombers had accepted their club-based penalties in 2013.
"There has been reference to other club presidents that Essendon should cop its right whack, well, it did in my opinion. It copped its right whack last year," Gordon said.
