ASADA refuses to reveal Essendon docs

Documents relating to the Essendon supplements investigation will remain secret - in defiance of a Senate motion - in a bid to protect "innocent" people who could be unfairly tarnished.

Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority chief Ben McDevitt faced a grilling at a Senate estimates hearing in Canberra on Friday as to why documents related to the investigation would not be tabled, despite a Senate motion on Monday ordering their production by Friday afternoon.

Mr McDevitt said he had sought urgent preliminary legal advice from the Australian Government Solicitor, who suggested the documents should not be made public.

"I respect the motion but at this point there is no way I'm prepared to hand over the documents," Mr McDevitt said.

"I'm extremely worried about the privacy of individual athletes and others."

Mr McDevitt said some of the information contained in the documents could jeopardise ongoing investigations.

Some people named in the documents were "totally innocent" and would have their reputations unfairly tarnished if they were to be made public, he said.

Asked by independent senator John Madigan whether redacted versions of the documents could be released, Mr McDevitt said there were solid reasons for keeping them private.

The way the case had played out in the media, blanking names out was not enough, he said.

One particular document related to the Essendon 34 and the decision of the AFL tribunal, parts of which have already been revealed by the media, could potentially be made public if 32 players consent to its release.

ASADA, the AFL and two players had consented to its release and the AFL was continuing to reach out to the remaining 32 to seek their consent.

"The minute that consent comes senator ... it can be immediately published by myself or the AFL," he said.