The Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority’s inquiry into the use of prohibited substances in two football codes is on the cusp of a staggering climax as 17 players from Cronulla’s 2011 squad and as many as 40 from AFL team Essendon face possible sanctions.

In a precursor to a potential doomsday scenario for the two clubs at the centre of the more than year-long investigation, both stand to be decimated if the alleged breaches go on to result in two-year bans for dozens of their players.

The class of 2011: Cronulla players from that era could receive show-cause notices, but it is not known which ones. Credit:Getty Images

It is believed ASADA, whose new chief executive Ben McDevitt begins in the post on Monday, is ready to issue show-cause letters as early as this week.

The NRL and AFL have been eagerly awaiting news from Canberra about whether their seasons would be turned upside down 15 months after the infamous ‘‘darkest day in Australian sport’’ news conference in the capital that sparked the investigation.