The 34 current and past Essendon players facing ASADA show-cause notices want to go before an AFL anti-doping tribunal as soon as possible.

AFL Players Association chief executive Paul Marsh says the 34 current and past Bombers do not intend to respond to their show-cause notices.

He said the players will not contest the next stage of the process, the Anti-Doping Rule Violation Panel.

• Hird safe at Essendon for now 
• Bombers settle with ‘The Weapon’

But they want their cases fast-tracked so they can go before the AFL anti-doping tribunal.

Marsh’s statement means that, for now, the players will not seek any deals with ASADA over their anti-doping cases.

“The players affirmed their commitment to seek an expeditious process to give them the opportunity to remove the cloud that has hung over them for almost two years,” Marsh said.

“The onus of proving the allegations against the players that they were administered the prohibited substance Thymosin Beta 4, rests with the AFL.

“While ASADA is only required to demonstrate to the Anti-Doping Rule Violation Panel a possibility of a violation, the much higher standard proof of comfortable satisfaction is required to be proved by the AFL at the AFL Anti-Doping tribunal.”

Marsh said the players want ASADA to bring the matter before the violation panel within seven days.

“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.

“We urge ASADA to take all necessary steps to accede to the players request for this matter to be fast-tracked.”

Marsh said the players remain “steadfast” in their belief that they have done nothing wrong and added they had cooperated fully with ASADA and the AFL.

“The evidence should have been provided when the show-cause notices were originally issued in June,” Marsh said.

“The unnecessary delays that the players have had to endure that are in no part attributable to them, without there being any finality to this saga.

“This process has already taken up 21 months, about half the average AFL players career.

“The prospect that players would have to endure a third season with these proceeding hanging over their head is simply unacceptable.

“The players want this matter resolved quickly and fairly. It is time to bring this matter to an end.”

AAP