Federal judge to wrap up Asada inquiry

Canberra NRL winger Sandor Earl is the only player charged from either code.

The Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (Asada) has hired former Federal Court judge Garry Downes to help wrap up its investigations into the AFL and NRL.

The federal government yesterday announced it had provided extra funding to Asada for the appointment, which comes just four days short of a year since the probes were launched.

Sports Minister Peter Dutton said Downes would review Asada's investigations and provide a report on his findings by the end of April.

However, there was still no indication when the doping probes, which threaten to mar both codes for a second season, would be finalised.

"Asada's investigative process has been ongoing for nearly a year and is of unprecedented complexity," Dutton said.

"In light of this, it is appropriate that a suitably qualified person be engaged to assist Asada as the investigations approach conclusion. The review process will assist Asada in finalising its investigations, but does not in itself guarantee finalisation on a fixed date."

Asada's inquiries were launched as a result of a year-long investigation by the Australian Crime Commission, which called a media conference last February announcing it had uncovered evidence of widespread use of banned drugs in Australian professional sport and also links to organised crime.

NRL outfit Cronulla and AFL club Essendon have been at the centre of the Asada probes, with both reprimanded by their leagues for mismanagement of their team supplements programmes.

Acting on an interim Asada report, the AFL last year charged the Bombers with bringing the game into disrepute, disqualifying them from the finals and fining them A$2 million.

The NRL took longer to come down on the Sharks, but in December it fined them A$1 million, handed coach Shane Flanagan a provisional one-year suspension and proposed former trainer Trent Elkin be deregistered for two years.

With Asada yet to make its final rulings, the possibility remains that players from both codes could face suspensions.

So far Canberra NRL winger Sandor Earl, who was issued with a breach notice in August after his admission to the use and trafficking of a peptide, is the only player charged from either code.

- AAP