ASADA chief executive Ben McDevitt hinted at a lack of trust in the AFL system by saying any appeal by ASADA would "ultimately serve only to delay consideration of these matters" and deny WADA an immediate chance to take the case to the international court of arbitration, which then will also determine to a "comfortable satisfaction" whether the players were given thymosin beta 4.

While many in the football world had hoped the saga was almost over, that may now not be the case. "There are a number of times when an anti-doping agency has decided not to appeal, WADA has chosen to appeal independently. There [are] plenty of precedents of that," Fahey said.

The World Anti-Doping Agency will have 21 days to decide if it will appeal the case. A WADA appeal is taken directly to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, not the AFL appeals board. "As with all other decisions I have made in these matters this decision has largely been informed by comprehensive legal advice," McDevitt said.

"I am conscious that ASADA does not have a direct right of appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport 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.

"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."