GRAEME Allan and Craig Lambert are on the verge of accepting 12-month bans for their roles in the Lachie Whitfield affair.

Whitfield, who was accused of breaching the AFL's anti-doping code, is reportedly set to cop a six-month ban under the League's rules and with the support of the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority.

Allan and Lambert have been at the centre of intense negotiations over the wording of their charges, which are believed to focus on their failure to follow club protocols.

Whitfield was alleged to have breached the AFL's anti-doping code when he stayed at Lambert's house rather than his own due to concerns authorities may test him.

Allan, the then Giants football manager, was investigated for his role in encouraging Whitfield to stay at Lambert's home, even though no drug test eventuated.  

Whitfield's ban, which would allow him to return in the first half of next season, will reportedly fall under the AFL's disrepute rules and not the anti-doping code.

The penalty for avoiding or conspiring to avoid a drug test under the anti-doping code is up to four years.

ASADA, which was last week waiting on full details of the AFL's investigation, has been contacted for comment. 

GWS commissioned an independent investigation last year into the allegations against Whitfield and found there was no significant basis to support the allegation he had attempted to avoid drug testers.

The club could now face the loss of picks at the upcoming NAB AFL Draft as part of the penalties.  

Allan, 62, was appointed Collingwood's head of football at the end of the season before his role in the long-running Whitfield affair was exposed.

Lambert, 48, has been the Brisbane Lions player welfare manager since the end of last season.  

Whitfield, 22, has played 72 games with the Giants since being recruited with pick No.1 in the 2012 NAB AFL Draft.