ASADA to be given interview powers The Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority could have the power to compel parties such as Stephen Dank to interviews by next week, with the federal Sports Minister increasingly confident that legislation to bolster the muscle of the government agency will be passed. After agreeing to drop an original push for ASADA to be able to force individuals to self-incriminate in interviews, minister Kate Lundy has won support for a new bill from the Greens. The crucial amendments to the ASADA legislation would give the national anti-doping watchdog the power to oblige all persons of interest to interviews, and compel them to produce all relevant documents, and other materials, relevant to investigations. But he has refused interview requests from ASADA, which - unless the legislation is passed - will remain helpless given Dank is no longer employed by a sporting club or league. The Coalition is yet to announce its position on the amended legislation regarding ASADA's powers, but Lundy's office is confident discussions with the opposition sports spokesman have been productive. If the bill is passed in the Senate next Wednesday, it could be before the House of Representatives by Thursday. "I've been very pleased with the support and productive discussions that we've had with stakeholders about this legislation," Lundy said on Thursday, with the legislation due to be raised in the Senate on Wednesday. This legislation will not just help ASADA, it will help sporting organisations with their own integrity investigations. Lundy first introduced proposed amendments to the ASADA bill into the Senate the night before the ACC released its report into sport. The Greens originally opposed the bill because it proposed that ASADA should have the right to compel witnesses to give evidence. Negotiations have led to amendments that restore a witness's right to silence. The new legislation would mean any person who failed to comply with a disclosure notice from ASADA within 14 days would be issued with a fine of up to $5100. Australian Olympic Committee president John Coates is among those who have argued the threat of a fine is not a sufficient deterrent. Coates told Parliament in March he believed athletes who do not co-operate with ASADA should face criminal sanctions.