AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan is confident Greater Western Sydney midfielder Lachie Whitfield will know his fate in the next week or so.
Whitfield, along with then Giants football boss Graeme Allan and player welfare manager Craig Lambert, were embroiled in controversy after it was alleged they conspired to avoid a potential drug test.
The trio is being investigated by the league and ASADA who are seeking to determine if any anti-doping regulations had been broken after Whitfield's stay with Lambert last year for three days.
"Hopefully sooner rather than later ... our team is working through it with ASADA to find the right way forward and the process for that," McLachlan replied when asked on Wednesday about the status of the investigation.
"Clearly, it's something where a decision needs to be made sooner rather than later and I'm optimistic it (will happen) in the next week or so."
McLachlan wouldn't be drawn on the likelihood of anti-doping infraction notices being issued over the incident.
"A decision hasn't been made (on infraction notices)," he said.
"It's been with ASADA and our guys are in regular contact with them about making a decision."
Whitfield, 22, has played 72 games for the Giants since being the first overall selection at the 2012 draft.
Allan is now the general manager of football at Collingwood and Lambert is in a player welfare role at Brisbane.
