Essendon AFL chairman David Evans on Thursday defended Jobe Watson against suggestions the skipper should be stood down following his drugs confession.

Watson last week admitted being injected with the banned substance AOD-9604 in 2012, saying he took the drug after being told it was legal.

While some have called for Watson to be stripped of his 2012 Brownlow Medal and banned from playing, Evans says such talk is premature and irresponsible.

Essendon and Watson are being investigated by the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) about their use of supplements last season.

Evans says the Bombers expect the investigation to be completed in early August.

Huge interest surrounds possible penalties which could be imposed on the third-placed Bombers, such as losing premiership points or having players banned if they are found guilty of breaching anti-doping rules.

Evans says AOD-9604 isn’t a performance-enhancing drug and he has rubbished claims the Bombers are gaining an unfair advantage in 2013 from their possible use of the substance in 2012.

“There have been calls for players to step down and for the club to be punished,” Evans told essendonfc.com.au.

“It is very important to state that new information is still being uncovered about what may have occurred at the club in the 2012 season including actions by people external to our club.”

Evans says the investigation is complex and he has urged the media and the public to be patient.

“The club feels very strongly that our players should be given the right to the presumption of innocence before being judged and we ask that the public await the outcome of the investigation,” Evans said.

“We are particularly concerned that our players are being denied due process and in Jobe Watson’s interview, he stated that he had been told that the substance he was given was AOD-9604.

“Whether the substance was AOD-9604 and further, whether it was a prohibited substance last year are questions that can only be answered after the ASADA-AFL investigation is completed.

“Any suggestion that Jobe Watson should be stood down from playing or be stripped of his Brownlow Medal is premature and inappropriate and strongly rejected by the club.”

The Bombers had sought expert advice over the effects of AOD-9604, Evans said.

“Our medical and pharmacological advice is that even if the players were given AOD-9604 last year, it is not a performance-enhancing substance and it certainly would not have a carry-forward effect into this year,” Evans said.