Essendon players face the prospect of suspensions after the AFL club lost its court battle with Australia's anti-doping authority over its supplements program. Justice John Middleton took just 30 minutes to deliver the finding in the Federal Court on Friday. He ruled the  nature of the investigation by ASADA and the AFL was legal, meaning current and past players may now face suspensions as a result. Scroll down for video AFL Essendon coach James Hird and the Essendon Football Club has had its case against the ASADA anti-doping agency dismissed The sidelined coach was present at Friday's ruling in the Federal Court handed down by  Justice John Middleton
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Allegations that the Anti-doping agency's investigation was unlawful was dismissed on Friday
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Justice John Middleton handed down the ruling in the Federal Court
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past and present players of the Essendon club now face suspensions
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The club and Hird have until October 1 to appeal the decision
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Justice Middle order they also  pay the court
He said ASADA acted for a proper purpose in providing the report to the @placeholder in its bit to pursue disciplinary action against the club and its officials, including Hird.
He also did not accept evidence that @placeholder was threatened and pressured into accepting responsibility for the AFL club's supplements program.