FORMER Essendon high performance coach Dean Robinson is yet to receive a show-cause notice from the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority for his role in the Bombers' 2012 supplements program.

Fairfax Media reported on Thursday that ASADA had yet to start formal action against Robinson, who was suspended by the Bombers in February last year, despite issuing a show-cause notice to sports scientist Stephen Dank last month.

Fairfax Media also reported that the Victorian WorkCover Authority had recently launched an investigation into whether Essendon's 2012 supplements program breached the state's Occupational Health and Safety Act.

In July last year, Worksafe told AFL.com.au it was not investigating Essendon because "more appropriate" bodies were on the job.

Robinson is suing the Bombers after resigning from the club 10 months ago and gave evidence to ASADA investigators in several interviews last year.

Dank received a show-cause notice from ASADA last month in relation to his supplements work at Essendon and in a previous role at Gold Coast.

Dank is accused of committing more than 30 anti-doping rule violations, but has refused to cooperate with ASADA.

David Galbally QC is acting for Robinson in his Supreme Court proceedings against Essendon but would not comment on the progress of his client's case.

However, Galbally criticised the drawn-out nature of ASADA's investigation into Essendon, which began last February and is yet to issue show-cause notices to any players despite reports that such action was imminent.

"In my view ASADA has dragged their feet, and justice delayed is justice denied," Galbally said.

"Anyone who has had anything to do with this investigation has been poorly served by the delay.

"I just think that it has taken far too long and I think that is grossly unfair."

At a directions hearing in the Victorian Supreme Court last December, Justice Robyn Lansdowne ordered Robinson and Essendon to begin mediation in May and scheduled a further hearing in June.

Meanwhile, the Victorian WorkCover Authority (VWA) told Fairfax Media it had launched an investigation into alleged risks to player health and safety at Essendon during the supplements program after receiving a request from an external party, but did not disclose the name of that organisation or individual.

"The VWA has been monitoring the progress of the ASADA investigation into allegations surrounding the Essendon Football Club," the statutory authority said in a statement.

"The VWA recently received a request under section 131 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 to investigate alleged risks to health and safety at the club.

"The VWA is required to investigate and determine if further action should be taken. As this is a current investigation, the VWA is unable to comment further."

The authority had not previously launched its own investigation into the Bombers' supplements program while the ASADA investigation remained ongoing.

But it is now obliged to investigate the Bombers because Section 131 of the OHS Act allows a person to request the VWA to bring a prosecution against an employer if it has not taken action within six months of alleged breaches occurring.

Fairfax Media said "senior VWA figures" believed the AFL penalties given to Essendon last August, which included a $2 million fine, were harsher than any likely penalties in a successful prosecution of the club or officials for OHS breaches.

Essendon coach Mark Thompson said he did not know who had lodged the investigation with the VWA, and he had not been interviewed as part of it.

Asked on Thursday morning if the players were nervous about the possibility of show-cause letters, he said: "I don't think much has changed for them .. we're certainly not making a focus of it."