In announcing the penalties the AFL had imposed on the Bombers for bringing the game into disrepute, Demetriou said the AFL and ASADA had not uncovered any evidence that warranted players being issued with infraction notices.
Demetriou also said the League had no plans to strip 2012 Brownlow medallist Jobe Watson of the honour.
But he suggested that did not mean Bombers players were totally in the clear.
"Our announcement today makes it very clear that in the case of the Essendon Football Club and the individuals that they were involved in a situation that provided a risk to their players for the use of prohibited substances," Demetriou said.
"Having said that through our general counsel, and it's still the position today, there is no evidence at the moment to issue infraction notices about the use of prohibited substances.
"ASADA have made it very clear that they have an ongoing investigation so that part of it remains open."
Demetriou said it was entirely up to ASADA as to whether they issued new charges about Essendon players.
However, Essendon chairman Paul Little was confident on Tuesday night that would not happen.
"No player has been found guilty of taking a performance-enhancing drug. I would remind you there have been no infraction notices, nor do we believe there will be," Little said.
"We believe there wasn't a lot of information in that that we could relate to in terms of substance.
"Against what is also commonly thought, there were quite comprehensive records kept at the club about what was taken and what wasn't taken.
"Do we know everything? No. Do we know a lot about what happened? Yes. What we know we are comfortable with. What we don't know, our belief is that there weren't any substances taken that were illegal or illicit."
Demetriou also said the AFL had no intention of stripping Essendon captain Jobe Watson of his 2012 Brownlow Medal.
"As it stands today, Jobe Watson hasn't been handed an infraction notice," Demetriou said.
"We haven't got a view, we haven't formed a view, we're not planning to do anything about his Brownlow Medal."
Demetriou said the AFL's investigators would now scrutinise Melbourne's supplements program.
"That's the intention of our investigators and I don't know where that is at," he said.
ASADA is yet to speak with former Essendon sports scientist Stephen Dank, who was also briefly involved with Melbourne after the Bombers dismissed him in September 2012.
Demetriou said the AFL would "absolutely" encourage ASASA to use the coercive legislative powers it was given in August to compel Dank to give evidence, suggesting it was only a matter of time before the government agency did.
"They are going through a process now where they can exercise those powers effectively and it's only a timing issue," Demetriou said.
Demetriou said the AFL, which unsuccessfully requested an interview with Dank during its investigation into Essendon, would still welcome the chance to speak with the controversial sports scientist, emphasising the AFL Commission still had the power to sanction him as a former football club employee.
"We are blessed to have the greatest game on earth but unfortunately sometimes the actions of one or two people can cause significant damage to fine people's reputations," Demetriou said.
"And I think if Stephen Dank wants to come forward and present himself before the AFL Commission or ASADA he's more than welcome to put himself forward because he's got a lot to answer for. "
Twitter: @AFL_Nick
Twitter: @MattThompsonAFL
But he suggested that did not mean Bombers players were totally in the clear.
"Our announcement today makes it very clear that in the case of the Essendon Football Club and the individuals that they were involved in a situation that provided a risk to their players for the use of prohibited substances," Demetriou said.
"Having said that through our general counsel, and it's still the position today, there is no evidence at the moment to issue infraction notices about the use of prohibited substances.
"ASADA have made it very clear that they have an ongoing investigation so that part of it remains open."
Demetriou said it was entirely up to ASADA as to whether they issued new charges about Essendon players.
However, Essendon chairman Paul Little was confident on Tuesday night that would not happen.
"No player has been found guilty of taking a performance-enhancing drug. I would remind you there have been no infraction notices, nor do we believe there will be," Little said.
"We believe there wasn't a lot of information in that that we could relate to in terms of substance.
"Against what is also commonly thought, there were quite comprehensive records kept at the club about what was taken and what wasn't taken.
"Do we know everything? No. Do we know a lot about what happened? Yes. What we know we are comfortable with. What we don't know, our belief is that there weren't any substances taken that were illegal or illicit."
Demetriou also said the AFL had no intention of stripping Essendon captain Jobe Watson of his 2012 Brownlow Medal.
"As it stands today, Jobe Watson hasn't been handed an infraction notice," Demetriou said.
"We haven't got a view, we haven't formed a view, we're not planning to do anything about his Brownlow Medal."
Demetriou said the AFL's investigators would now scrutinise Melbourne's supplements program.
"That's the intention of our investigators and I don't know where that is at," he said.
ASADA is yet to speak with former Essendon sports scientist Stephen Dank, who was also briefly involved with Melbourne after the Bombers dismissed him in September 2012.
Demetriou said the AFL would "absolutely" encourage ASASA to use the coercive legislative powers it was given in August to compel Dank to give evidence, suggesting it was only a matter of time before the government agency did.
"They are going through a process now where they can exercise those powers effectively and it's only a timing issue," Demetriou said.
Demetriou said the AFL, which unsuccessfully requested an interview with Dank during its investigation into Essendon, would still welcome the chance to speak with the controversial sports scientist, emphasising the AFL Commission still had the power to sanction him as a former football club employee.
"We are blessed to have the greatest game on earth but unfortunately sometimes the actions of one or two people can cause significant damage to fine people's reputations," Demetriou said.
"And I think if Stephen Dank wants to come forward and present himself before the AFL Commission or ASADA he's more than welcome to put himself forward because he's got a lot to answer for. "
Twitter: @AFL_Nick
Twitter: @MattThompsonAFL
