ASADA CEO Ben McDevitt has announced that he will not appeal the AFL anti-doping appeals tribunal’s not guilty findings on 34 current and former Essendon players and also sports scientist Stephen Dank.

While he ruled out an ASADA appeal, McDevitt effectively left the matter in the hands of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) which now has three weeks to decide whether it will appeal.

“As with all other decisions I have made in these matters this decision has largely been informed by comprehensive legal advice,” said McDevitt in a statement.

“I am conscious that ASADA does not have a direct right of appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and the only appeal avenue open to ASADA at this time is to the AFL Anti-Doping Appeals Tribunal.

“I am also aware that appealing any of these decisions within the AFL framework would ultimately serve only to delay consideration of these matters by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

“I have therefore arranged to provide the entire case file encompassing all 35 matters to WADA for its independent review.

“This is in accordance with global anti-doping protocols.

“WADA will then be able to make an independent decision as to whether to exercise its appeal options.

“ASADA will support any WADA initiated appeal in relation to these matters.

“In the interests of transparency, I would welcome the fullest possible release of the tribunal’s findings and reasons on all of these matters,” said McDevitt.”