ESSENDON looks almost certain to embark upon a new season without any action from the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority over doping charges - but still without an iron-clad guarantee that infraction notices won't come.

And the first anniversary of "the blackest day in Australian sport" - February 7 - is sure to come and go before ASADA interviews sports scientist Stephen Dank, the man seen as central to both the Essendon and Cronulla aspects of the Project Cobia investigation.

There has been no change to the AFL or Essendon's understanding of the status of the ASADA investigation into the Bombers since late last year - when both parties said ASADA and other government officials had indicated that without further information, there would be no drugs charges in the near future.

Asked directly if the Essendon aspect of ASADA's Project Cobia was still being actively investigated, ASADA told the Herald Sun:"ASADA's investigation into the matters raised by the ACC Organised Crime and Drugs in Sport report is ongoing" - meaning that the spectre of potential future action remains.

CHAPPY HAS BOMBER EXCITED

Sources close to the AFL and Essendon side of the investigation now believe the possibility of doping charges has grown remote.

While a circumstantial case relating to the possible use of banned Thymosin Beta-4 was included in an annex to the AFL disrepute charges against Essendon and officials, Dank has denied he had given the substance to players and it is understood it is not named in a spreadsheet kept by the club and seen by ASADA as part of the investigation.

Essendon captain Jobe Watson said he believed he had been treated with AOD-9604 in 2012, and it is believed other Essendon players made similar admissions in interviews with investigators.

But ASADA has not yet acted on those admissions and the status of the drug remains contentious, and some close to the case have expressed doubts about ASADA's willingness to prosecute over the use of AOD-9604.

HURLEY AT HOME IN THE BACKLINE

It is not listed on the WADA banned list that relates to peptides - S2 - but is banned under the S0 category if it is proven that it is not approved for human use by an Australian authority.

Whether it is or isn't approved for human use has been the subject of much debate and involves the possibility that it would gain approval for use if created by a compounding chemist.

Meanwhile, the Herald Sun understands that despite new powers being made law in August last year to compel witnesses to submit to ASADA interview, the anti-doping body is yet to request talks with Dank - who worked at NRL club Cronulla in 2011 and with the Bombers in 2012.

Dank would have 14 days to respond to an interview request from ASADA, but has maintained he will not cooperate and is considered more likely to test the August amendment to the ASADA act in court.

The Bombers play their first competitive match in the new-look pre-season competition on February 17 against the Gold Coast Suns at Metricon Stadium.