Craig Lambert Biography

Craig Lambert will not see out the final year of his contract with the Brisbane Lions after he and the club agreed to part ways.

Lambert is in the midst of serving a 12-month ban for his role in the Lachie Whitfield saga, which saw the GWS midfielder banned for six months.

Lambert was the Giants' welfare manager at the time of the incident in 2015, before joining the Lions later that year as their retention and strategy manager.

"Craig has been a member of the Brisbane family for nearly 20 years, a club champion and All Australian on the field and a well-respected administrator off it," Lions CEO Greg Swann said in a statement.

"We wish Craig all the best, and look forward to seeing him take his next step in his football journey."

Greater Western Sydney is fined $100,000 and 1000 draft points for the actions of two club officials, Graeme Allan and Craig Lambert, and its player Lachie Whitfield, that saw the club charged with conduct unbecoming.

A sub-committee of the AFL Commission consisting of chairman Mike Fitzpatrick and commission members Jason Ball and Paul Bassat made the decision that the club had to bear some responsibility for the affair after hearing from the Giants.

Anti-doping watchdog ASADA says it's comfortable with the punishments handed out by the AFL to Graeme Allan, Craig Lambert and Lachlan Whitfield.

"I note the investigation revealed no use or intended use of performance-enhancing drugs," ASADA chief executive Ben McDevitt said in a statement.

"Given the circumstances, I do not believe pursuit of additional action under the AFL anti-doping rules is warranted."

GWS defender Adam Tomlinson says Craig Lambert, who this week accepted a 12-month suspension for 'conduct unbecoming' – earnt the trust of the players during his five seasons at the club as a welfare manager.

"If we ever needed somewhere else to stay, or we needed a night off from our roommate, you could go there," Tomlinson told EON Sports Radio.

"Lambo was terrific and I couldn't speak higher of a person. It's very unfortunate what's happened to him because he's probably just trying to help players out.

"He made us feel at home. He and his wife Melissa were terrific in the way they welcomed us pretty much into their family."

Lachie Whitfield has been suspended for six months for breaching AFL rules, but the Greater Western Sydney midfielder will be eligible to return in round eight when the Giants play Collingwood.

AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan confirmed, which has been backdated, also announcing former GWS officials Graeme Allan and Craig Lambert would be handed 12-month suspensions for their roles in the long-running affair.

Whitfield apologized for his actions and said he was going through a difficult period at the time of the incident.

"After a long and stressful 18 months, the AFL and I have reached what we believe to be a fair resolution," he said in a statement.

"I was going through a difficult period in my life and was not thinking clearly at the time. I know I should have behaved differently.

"I sincerely apologise to my team mates, coaches and our supporters. I love playing for the GWS Giants and am determined to repay the faith and loyalty they have shown in me."

ASADA says it is still waiting for the AFL's 'full investigation file' into the case involving Greater Western Sydney player Lachie Whitfield and former officials Graeme Allan and Craig Lambert.

"On 31 October 2016, ASADA asked the AFL for its full investigation file, which we are still awaiting," an ASADA spokesperson told AFL.com.au.

"Because the potential consequences for individuals are so serious, it is important that ASADA considers all relevant material before any decision is made about whether to take forward possible anti-doping rule violations.

"In this case, as the information was collected as a part of an AFL investigation, due diligence requires ASADA to assess all evidence collected in its entirety."

The Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority has reportedly formed the view that Lachie Whitfield should be charged under the AFL's anti-doping code.

Whitfield is alleged to have breached the League's code in 2015 when he avoided drug testers by staying at former Greater Western Sydney welfare manager Craig Lambert's house.