Essendon, its coach James Hird and key football staff members Mark Thompson, Danny Corcoran and Dr Bruce Reid have been charged with bringing the game into disrepute for their roles in the club's 2011-12 supplements program.

AFL general counsel Andrew Dillon announced the charges arising from the AFL-ASADA investigation on Tuesday night at AFL House.

The charges will be heard by the AFL Commission on Monday, August 26 at AFL House.

Essendon chairman Paul Little wasted no time saying the club would vigorously defend the charges, in which time Hird, Thompson, Corcoran and Reid would remain in their roles.

No charges were announced against departed Essendon high performance manager Dean Robinson.

In better news for the club, Dillon announced no players will be issued with infraction notices at the present time.

"On information before the AFL, there is no specific anti-doping rule violation attributed to any individual player for use of AOD-9604 or any other prohibited substance," Dillon said.

This is despite WADA declaring AOD-9604 – an anti-obesity drug – a banned substance under the S0 (non-approved substances) clause).
Essendon supplement scandal: the story so far

However, Dillon said further infraction notices could still be issued with the joint investigation between the AFL and ASADA to remain open.

This could lead to further charges under AFL rules against other individuals, as could the revelation of "further information".  

"All parties charged will be provided every reasonable opportunity to respond to these matters before the AFL Commission prior to any determination being made," Dillon said.

Little said the charges against Essendon involved complex matters that the club was determined to resolve as quickly as possible, but not "at the expense of thoroughness and due process that affords all parties natural justice to ensure a fair outcome."

Little said the Bombers welcomed the news their players would not be sanctioned at this stage.

"We have maintained that no player has taken a performance enhancing substance and that there was no breach of the AFL's anti-doping code," Little said.

"We stand by this and thank our players and their families for the way they have conducted themselves during what have been emotionally taxing times."

Little conceded there was "no doubt" Essendon and staff members had made mistakes and that its governance and people management had had "significant gaps".

Club captain Jobe Watson said the announcement the players would not face infraction notices "vindicated" their belief they had not done anything wrong.

He also said the players had "fully co-operated with every part" of the investigation and had "always said we've got nothing to hide".

"As professional sportsmen, we would never do anything to compromise the integrity of the game, our team, or our own values," Watson said.

"The last six months have been an extremely tough time for us and our families and friends, and while we've stayed focused on our footy, the speculation and innuendo has had an impact in some way on all of us.

"You could never describe this experience as a positive, but what has come out of it is an even tighter bond across the playing group."

He also thanked the club's fans for the "unwavering" loyalty and that the players would continue to support the club and coaches.

The club and the four individuals were charged under AFL Rule 1.6 with engaging in conduct that is unbecoming or likely to prejudice the interests or reputation of the Australian Football League or to being the game of football into disrepute.

Dillon said the AFL would not be commenting further on the pending Commission hearing.

An ASADA spokesperson told AFL.com.au there would be no comment on the charges.

As recently as Tuesday morning, Hird said he would be "staggered and shocked" if charges were laid because the interim report had not been finalised.

The ASADA and AFL probe into Essendon's supplements program in 2011 and 2012 began in February and has cast a pall over the club's season.

Hird admitted on Sunday after the loss to West Coast, the Bombers' third on the trot, that the saga had affected the players' mental state.

The scandal has claimed the jobs of former Essendon football manager Paul Hamilton, CEO Ian Robson and club chairman David Evans, who resigned after a health scare following the round 18 loss to Hawthorn.