ESSENDON champion Tim Watson has called for ASADA to show its hand after a 15-month investigation into the Bombers.

Following reports up to 40 Essendon players could be issued with show cause letters as early as this week along with 17 from NRL club Cronulla, Watson, the father of Bombers captain Jobe, said players deserved to know their fate.

“This is like death by 1000 cuts ... I think everybody would like to think that at some point bring it to a conclusion.

“I don’t think a player has been interviewed for nearly 10 months now so that’s a long time that somebody has been sitting on this evidence,” he said on 7mate program Talking Footy.

He said Jobe had not been notified of any update in the investigation or the likelihood of facing doping charges that could destroy Essendon’s season.

Watson said it was unfair to leave the players hanging.

“It’s not so much anger, it’s frustration that a lot of people are feeling now,” he said.

“There’s a new CEO at ASADA and he’s spoken pretty tough in the short time he’s been in that position.

“I think that everybody believes now — I’m talking about the AFL as well — that the information has been collected, all the investigation has been done, why is this taking so long?”

FORMER TOP COP TAKES REINS AT ASADA

Former police officer Ben McDevitt took charge at ASADA over the weekend, stressing the fact players are responsible for what they put in their bodies.

“Health of our professional sports people and integrity of our sports is much more important than winning at all costs,” McDevitt said.

He said Australia must jealously guard its reputation for fair play. “As Australians, we all love sports and we all hate cheats,” he said.

The receipt of a show-cause letter is a preliminary step towards a player being banned and any player issued with such a notice has a right of reply. Should the player fail to show cause as to why they should not be charged, ASADA then places them on its register of findings. At this point the NRL and AFL will be expected to issue infraction notices.

Any player issued with an infraction notice for the use of a prohibited substance will face a mandatory two-year ban.