The Giants today responded to a Fairfax Media report that the league is looking into whether the 22-year-old stayed at the home of former welfare manager Craig Lambert in May last year to avoid an illicit drug test he allegedly feared he may fail.

The report claims there are incriminating text messages between Whitfield and his girlfriend.

The Giants issued a statement today, confirming “that midway through last year the club received an allegation from a member of the public that warranted investigation”.

“The club notified the AFL and commissioned an independent investigation by a Senior Counsel based on the evidence available,” it said.

“The club has been cooperating fully with the AFL who have been conducting a separate investigation. The club is awaiting advice from the AFL to finalise the matter.”

The story broke at a bad time for the club with the Giants preparing to play their first-ever AFL finals match, against cross-town rival Sydney on Saturday week.

An AFL spokesperson said they didn’t know when the result of their investigation would be released.

Whitfield, the No.1 pick in the 2012 draft, is expected to be available for selection for the qualifying final against Sydney at ANZ stadium.

He has had a solid season for the Giants, playing 19 out of their 22 home and away games and averaging 20 disposals a match.

Whitfield, who re-signed with the Giants for a further two seasons earlier this year, as well as both Lambert and former football manager Graeme Allan face the prospect of two-to-four-year bans if it’s proven they conspired to deliberately evade or were complicit in seeking to evade a drug test.

Lambert is now player welfare manager at the Brisbane Lions, while Allan is reportedly set to become Head of Football at his former club Collingwood.

-AAP