The Essendon supplements scandal is set to continue for months after the World Anti-Doping Agency announced it will appeal the AFL anti-doping tribunal's not guilty verdicts on current and former Bombers players.
In March, 34 players were cleared of using the banned peptide Thymosin beta-4 during the 2012 season, with the tribunal saying there was insufficient evidence of their guilt.
Last month ASADA opted not appeal the decision, which followed a two-year joint ASADA-AFL investigation.
But WADA, based in the Canadian city of Montreal, announced on Tuesday its intentions to take the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
"We have now completed our independent review of the full case file on the AFL Anti-Doping Appeals Tribunal decision regarding 34 current and former Essendon players," WADA director general David Howman said in a statement.
"After a thorough examination of the evidence contained within the file, WADA has decided to lodge its independent right of appeal to the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
"As with all pending cases, and adhering to the proper and normal respect for the integrity of the legal process, WADA will refrain from commenting further on the subject until a decision has been made by CAS."
It is understood appeals to the CAS - of which Australian Olympic Committee head John Coates is president - are heard "de novo", meaning the whole case will start fresh and won't be restricted to what has already been argued.
WADA's decision means the protracted supplements saga will extend well into the AFL season and Bombers players could once again face possible suspension.
"It has really taken us all by surprise," Essendon chairman Paul Little told Triple M's Hot Breakfast on Tuesday morning.
"(It's) early days but I would have thought it probably could be heard reasonably quickly.
"Everyone involved has pretty much got their lives back ... but now it looks like we have to jump back on the horse."
The move, which is sure to anger the AFL, was welcomed by ASADA chief executive Ben McDevitt, who remains convinced Bombers players took a banned substance as part of sports scientist Stephen Dank's controversial program.
"ASADA has handed over a comprehensive brief of evidence to assist WADA in its preparation for the CAS hearing," McDevitt said in a statement.
Former ASADA boss Richard Ings described the move as "courageous".
In a separate judgment made last month, the AFL tribunal cleared Dank of 21 of 31 charges while finding him guilty of multiple offences of trafficking banned substances.
He has indicated he will appeal the findings against him.
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