ESSENDON chairman Paul Little says the club asked ASADA to hold off on issuing its players with show-cause notices over doping until after Sunday's clash with Melbourne.

The request was to allow the Bombers to properly prepare for the game. 

Little also blasted the anti-doping body for irresponsibly using the media "by intimidating and attempting to negotiate with our players". 

Thirty-four past and present Essendon players were issued show-cause notices over the alleged use of the peptide thymosin beta 4 on Thursday last week. 


Little said numerous attempts to speak with ASADA CEO Ben McDevitt had failed, but he claimed the Bombers had been able to ask for the delivery of the letters to be delayed.  

"I have tried on numerous occasions to establish a dialogue with the head of ASADA to no avail," Little said at the club's pre-match function on Sunday at the MCG. 

"Instead, they have chosen to use the media and other public forums to justify the issuing of the show-cause notices.

"The club requested that today's game not be negatively affected by the obvious and significant distraction to our players and their state of mind.

"Consequently, our legal team requested the posting of these show-cause notices occur next week so that we could better assist our players in handling this traumatic development in their careers.

"Having now waited for 16 months, what significant difference would a further two days have made to the process?"

McDevitt said on Friday that players who cooperated with ASADA could have their penalties slashed by more than half. 

Players face up to two years out of the game if they are found to have violated anti-doping regulations during the Bombers' controversial supplements program in 2012. 

Little said the club had received "strong advice" to launch Friday's Federal Court application to have the joint investigation declared unlawful. 

He also said the reason it took until now to challenge the nature of the investigation was because the club lost faith in the process as it dragged on. 

"The CEO of ASADA has used the media irresponsibly by intimidating and attempting to negotiate with our players," he said. 

"It should be re-emphasised that no new evidence has been produced and that I and the board remain steadfast in our belief that no player took harmful or illegal substances during the 2012-13 season.

"Some in the press have asked why we waited until now to raise this legal challenge. 

"When the investigation started 16 months ago, we entered the process in good faith believing that ASADA would be in control and acting in accordance obviously with their charter.

"As the investigation process dragged on, and as the details supporting the allegations was not forthcoming, we became more and more concerned at this process.

"In addition, there has been an increasing chorus of people suggesting the process was constitutionally flawed, including recognised legal experts.

"If we are successful with this challenge, the court will declare the investigation null and void and therefore will grant a permanent injunction."

In front of a packed room and in between bursts of applause, Little said the overriding agenda for the Bombers now was to give their past and present players involved their "full and unconditional support".