Federal government funding has been provided to ASADA to appoint Garry Downes who will assist with the investigations into the supplement scandals that rocked the AFL and NRL in 2013.
Click here for our full coverage of the Essendon supplements scandal
In a statement, Federal Minister for Sport Peter Dutton said the support was provided because the government recognised there was strong interest in bringing the ASADA investigations to a conclusion.
He said he expected Downes to review the investigation and report to ASADA by April.
However he said the report would not necessarily signal the end of investigations.
"It is expected that Downes will be able to complete a review and provide a report to ASADA as soon as possible, but no later than the end of April 2014," Dutton said.
"The review process will assist ASADA in finalising its investigations, but that does not in itself guarantee finalisation on a fixed date."
Downes was a Federal Court judge and president of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.
The AFL maintained the stance it has taken since the investigation began.
"We will continue to co-operate fully with ASADA in any way we are required to for them to complete their investigation," an AFL spokesperson said.
The AFL received an interim report from ASADA in August 2013 as a result of a joint investigation with the AFL into the activities of the Essendon Football Club in 2012.
Essendon and key officials were charged with a range of offences that led to it being fined $2 million, eliminated from the 2013 finals, receiving draft penalties.
Its senior coach James Hird was suspended for 12 months, assistant coach Mark Thompson was fined and football manager Danny Corcoran suspended.
All charges laid against club doctor Bruce Reid were withdrawn without penalty.
