ASADA has hit back at claims it is taking too long on the Lachie Whitfield investigation

ASADA says it is not dragging the chain on the Lachie Whitfield investigation and revealed it is still awaiting the AFL’s full file into the contentious 15-month probe.

Lachie Whitfield playing in the finals series. Picture: Getty Images

ASADA has hit back at claims it is dragging the chain on the Lachie Whitfield investigation and revealed it is still awaiting the AFL’s full file into the contentious 15-month probe.

The Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority told the Herald Sun it had requested the league’s complete material into the Whitfield case nine days ago.

The AFL spent more than 12 months investigating claims Greater Western Sydney staffers Craig Lambert and Graeme Allan hid Whitfield at Lambert’s home in May last year out of fear the Giants’ midfielder would fail a drugs test.

“On 31 October 2016, ASADA asked the AFL for its full investigation file, which we are still awaiting,” an anti-doping authority spokesperson told the Herald Sun.

The Lachie Whitfield investigation is ongoing. Picture: Getty Images

“Because the potential consequences for individuals are so serious, it is important that ASADA considers all relevant material before any decision is made about whether to take forward possible anti-doping rule violations.

“In this case, as the information was collected as a part of an AFL investigation, due diligence requires ASADA to assess all evidence collected in its entirety.”

Allan, now Collingwood’s football boss, has engaged top dispute resolution lawyer Leon Zwier and will fiercely contest claims of wrongdoing.

Confusion continues over whether Whitfield, Lambert and Allan can be punished under anti-doping rules or the AFL’s misconduct and illicit drugs policies.

Ongoing delays in the laying of charges also means GWS is unlikely to be slapped with possible governance penalties and the potential loss of draft picks before this month’s AFL national draft on November 25.

ASADA said this afternoon it could not rule on the Whitfield matter without access to all of the AFL’s alleged evidence.

Graeme Allan left GWS for Collingwood. Picture: Getty Images

It is believed the credibility of Whitfield’s former partner, who sounded the alarm to Giants officials about his alleged drug use last May, will form a basis of Allan’s defence.

Whitfield told AFL investigators he had stayed at Lambert’s house because he was suffering a migraine.

The fact that there was not a drug test scheduled for Whitfield at the time will also be put forward as a defence.

Details of the AFL’s investigation into Allan, Lambert and Whitfield were leaked within hours of Allan’s appointment at Collingwood over Neil Balme in August.

Originally published as ASADA has hit back at claims it is taking too long on the Lachie Whitfield investigation