ASADA boss Ben McDevitt has blamed appeals made by Essendon and coach James Hird for the delays in resolving the drugs saga.

The matter came to public light in February 2013, and both the club and Mr Hird launched appeals into the legality of the joint AFL/ASADA investigation last year.

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The club’s appeal and two by Mr Hird have been thrown out, and the matter is being deliberated upon by the Anti-Doping Tribunal, with a verdict expected in March.

Mr McDevitt was asked by the Senate Estimates committee if he felt the timeframe for the investigation had been acceptable.

He said the appeals made by both the club and Mr Hird meant the matter had dragged on.

“This isn’t about decisions made by ASADA in 2014 or 2013, it’s about decisions made by athletes in 2012 … and their support personnel and clubs,” Mr McDevitt said.

“There have been delays. I am a big believer in ‘justice delayed is justice denied’.

“At the same time, a lot of delays are due to the mechanics, the framework, the appeal mechanisms.

“In an ideal situation these issues should be resolved as quickly as possible and in an ideal situation it should not be played out in the public eye, and that is what has made it particularly difficult not only for the players, but for ASADA. ”

And Mr McDevitt said the Anti-Doping Tribunal’s findings may not spell the end of the saga.

“Depending on the findings of the tribunal, there are appeal options open to any of the players before the tribunal, including ASADA and WADA,” he said.