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Greater Western Sydney CEO Dave Matthews says an independent investigation vindicated Giants midfielder Lachie Whitfield and found no significant basis to support allegations he had reportedly attempted to avoid illicit drug testing.The AFL has completed an investigation into the allegation, which was made by a member of the public halfway through last year.However, they have yet to release their findings and on Tuesday could not give a time frame for when that would happen.Fairfax media reported on Tuesday it understood there were incriminating text messages between 2012 No.1 draft pick Whitfield and his then girlfriend.It said the AFL was considering what action to take, if any, after completing its own investigation into whether 22-year-old Whitfield stayed at the home of former welfare manager Craig Lambert in May last year in order to avoid a drug test.Whitfield, as well as both Lambert and former football manager Graeme Allan would face the prospect of two-to-four-year bans if it were proven they conspired to evade or were complicit in seeking to evade a drug test.Both Allan and Lambert have since left the Giants - Allan was recently appointed football director at Collingwood and Lambert returned to work at the Brisbane Lions.Matthews said GWS immediately alerted the AFL in July 2015 when they became aware of the allegations and referred the issue to their integrity committee, which commissioned the independent report.Asked why the Giants hadnt taken any action against Whitfield, Matthews said because the allegations that were put forward from a member of the public that were referred to a special counsel to investigate came back and largely were proven to be allegations that there werent sufficient evidence to support.So in that regard we didnt see any reason at the time to take any action at all.In fact weve since extended Lachie Whitfields contract. Hes an important player to our club.Weve got a lot of confidence in him and the report that weve received certainly was vindication for Lachie.Matthews was comfortable with the way the Giants had handled the matter.The report that we commissioned that was independent found that there was no really significant basis to support the allegations that were put forward, Mathews said.Were very confident and very comfortable in the report that we received and the action weve taken since our club, in my view, has acted properly every step of the way.Giants coach Leon Cameron expected Whitfield would play in Saturday weeks qualifying final against Sydney, but admitted the timing of the revealed allegation wasnt great.Its obviously not ideal, but hes in the club today, hes OK, Cameron said.Hes got around his teammates and that (the AFL Investigation) will sort itself out in time.But at this stage hell be ready to go next Saturday.Its not going to affect us at all.Whitfield has had a solid season for the Giants, playing 19 out of their 22 home and away games and averaging 20 disposals a match.He missed three matches in the second half of the season after a bout of tonsillitis.Matthews wasnt sure who was responsible for bringing the allegations into the public domain but said he wasnt worried about the source.John Lowenstein Jersey . 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The league has discussed placing its next two expansion teams in Miami and Atlanta.STOKE, England -- Sergio Aguero rediscovered his accuracy from the penalty spot in scoring one of his two goals for Manchester City in a 4-1 win at Stoke in the Premier League on Saturday.The Argentina striker failed to score from two penalties in a Champions League playoff match on Tuesday, but converted a 27th-minute effort to set City on its way to a second straight league victory to open the season.Aguero then headed in a whipped free kick by Kevin De Bruyne in the 36th for 2-0, making it six goals already this season for Citys star striker.Bojan Krkic pulled a goal back for Stoke from the penalty spot in the 49th, and City fought to preserve its lead in the second half while playing against the wind before substitute Nolito scored two late tap-ins.Both of the penalties in the match -- given at corner-kick situations -- might not have been so readily awarded in previous years, but referees appear to be clamping down at the start of this season under new directives.City got the first penalty when Stoke center back Ryan Shawcross was punished for pulling back Nicolas Otamendi, who had stolen a yard at a corner. Stokes penalty was perhaps softer, with winger Raheem Sterling adjudged to have impeded Shawcross as he attempted to mark the much taller defender without even looking at the ball.As usual this time of the year, theres a directive out there and certain teams might get penalized for that, Stoke manager Mark Hughes said. Thats fine, as long as its consistent right from now and the end of the season. Usually it isnt, so well have to wait and see. That penalty award shook us, really.City manager Pep Guardiola said teams will have to adjusst, because the refs are so curious about what happens in the box.ddddddddddddCity has won its first three matches under Guardiola -- two in the league and the 5-0 victory over Steaua Bucharest in the Champions League playoffs -- and Aguero, in particular, looks to be thriving under the Spanish coach.He scored in last weekends 2-1 win over Sunderland that kicked off the Guardiola era, then a hat trick against Steaua -- despite missing twice from the spot.Aguero retained penalty-taking duties and made no mistake to put City ahead against Stoke, sending former City goalkeeper Shay Given the wrong way. Agueros goal against Sunderland was also a penalty.After Bojan reduced the deficit, Stokes players took a more direct route to put pressure on Citys defense with the wind behind them. Guardiola said Friday that playing at Stoke was the toughest away game in the Premier League, but City held firm.Nolito, one of Citys eight offseason signings, came on for Jesus Navas in the 69th and clinched only Citys second win in nine Premier League trips to Stoke.The Spain forward finished off from inside the six-yard box in the 86th after fellow substitute Kelechi Iheanacho broke through and rounded Given. Then, five minutes into stoppage time, Iheanacho dummied a long ball through and Sterling ran through, before passing sideways to Nolito who stroked the ball into an empty net.Its not easy because we played in midweek, City captain Pablo Zabaleta said, but we produced a great performance and great team spirit from the first minute. ' ' '