GARRY Downes’ secret ASADA report on the AFL and NRL is due to be handed to the anti-doping authority by the end of Wednesday.

Apart from announcing the retired Federal Court judge’s secondment to ASADA in February to “assist ASADA as the investigations approach conclusion”, neither sport and health minister Peter Dutton nor the authority has commented on his role.

It is expected he will have reviewed all individual cases related to the investigation into the possible use of banned drugs in sport — where the focus has been on Essendon in the AFL and Cronulla in the NRL.

Former ASADA boss Richard Ings told the Herald Sun yesterday: “The most important thing that Downes can contribute before his departure at the end of April is to assist ASADA in making final decision as to whether any people involved in these matters have cases to answer — or not — for violations of anti-doping rules.”

A spokesman for Dutton said legislation prevented ASADA from making the Downes report — or other information related to the investigation — public, and the AFL does not expect to see it.

“The report will be subject to legal privilege and will remain confidential,” Dutton’s spokesman said.

“Matters being investigated in the NRL and AFL are still to be considered, and under ASADA’s legislation it can make nothing public until all matters associated with the investigation are finalised.”

ASADA did not respond to questions yesterday about whether the authority was in possession of the report, or whether it contained recommendations about how the investigation should proceed.

Should ASADA decide not to go ahead with any action against Essendon players, it would likely seek the approval of athletes involved before issuing a statement clearing them.

That protocol was followed by ASADA in cases involving swimming champ Ian Thorpe and former West Coast player Michael Braun.

No Essendon player has been given a show-cause notice, the first step in the process that could lead to a doping charge.

The case against former Essendon sports scientist Stephen Dank has been delayed after the Anti-Doping Rule Violation Panel — the board that decides whether sporting governing bodies should issue doping charges — was gutted just days before it expected to review his case.

Four of its members were not renewed after a federal government decision to refresh all minister-appointed boards and it is expected it will take time to get new members up to speed on the unprecedented case.

Dank was issued a show-cause alleging 34 possible anti-doping breaches in early March.

Meanwhile, ASADA chief executive Aurora Andruska will finish up at the authority next Friday.

It is understood the department of health, which administers ASADA, is still sounding out potential replacements — including internationally — and it is thought it will be some time before a new chief executive is in place.