AFL drops charges against Essendon doctor The AFL has dropped all charges against Essendon doctor Bruce Reid for his alleged involvement in the club's controversial supplements program. Reid had been due back in the Victorian Supreme Court on Thursday to continue his challenge against the AFL who had charged him, Essendon coach James Hird, senior assistant coach Mark Thompson and football manager Danny Corcoran with bringing the sport into disrepute. Hird, Thompson and Corcoran all accepted their sanctions, but Reid chose to take his case to court. In a statement issued on Wednesday, Reid said he shared the AFL's concerns over the circumstances of the supplements saga. Reid said the failures of Essendon's high performance unit had led to him being marginalised by those in control of the supplements program. "I support the stance taken by the AFL and the AFL Medical Officers Association in requiring appropriate governance at club level (particularly in terms of "sports science"), including a hierarchy of control which ensures a club doctor is the key person with the responsibility within AFL clubs for the health, welfare and safety of the playing group," said Reid. Reid plans to return to his position as Essendon's senior medical officer in January after taking a period of leave. The AFL said it accepted Reid's position, prompting it to withdraw all charges against him without penalty. Hird was suspended for 12 months for his role in the supplements scandal, with Corcoran suspended for four months and Thompson fined $30,000. The AFL also banned Essendon from participating in the 2013 finals series, fined it $2 million and imposed draft sanctions on the club for the next two years. Essendon chairman Paul Little welcomed the news that Reid's name had been formally cleared. Former Bombers great Tim Watson - the father of current captain Jobe Watson - said the events of 2013 had been distasteful for the club. "But as distasteful as the whole season has been for many Essendon people, in time the memory will fade," Watson said at the launch of a statue of Essendon legend John Coleman at the MCG. These things help people move on because they're a reminder, probably the Reidy thing is like an exclamation mark on what's taken place at Essendon. Whereas this (Coleman statue) is pointing to the proud history of the football club and all the great things that have made the club great. The Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority is continuing its investigation of Essendon's supplements program.