ASADA claims it could level fresh doping accusations against Essendon players even if it loses its court battle with the AFL club.

An Essendon court victory against the ASADA doping claims would also act against the interest of AFL fans and the general public, ASADA claims in its defence.

“The AFL, followers of the AFL competition and the public at large are all aware of the existence of very serious issues surrounding adherence to anti-doping rules by (Essendon),” ASADA says in its defence document filed with the Federal Court.

“There is therefore a compelling public interest case against the grant of relief to the applicant (Essendon).”

Both Essendon and its suspended coach James Hird are arguing a joint ASADA and AFL probe into the club’s 2012 supplements program was unlawful.

But ASADA says that even if the investigation was found to be illegal, an accusation it denies, it could “lawfully obtain all of the exact same information” again, and reissue fresh accusations at Essendon players.

The anti-doping group also claims Essendon requested ASADA and the AFL conduct a join investigation in February 2013.

The Federal Court trial between Essendon and Hird against ASADA will begin in August.