The Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) opened for business at 9am yesterday.

At 9.01am it had its first case to investigate and is already working against the clock.

The new national drug-fighting agency has four days to determine whether 19-year-old Commonwealth Games weightlifter Belinda Van Tienen is a cleanskin.

The Australian Weightlifting Federation (AWF) has already cleared the 19-year-old of accusations that she trafficked performance-enhancing drugs to fellow weightlifters Camillo Fogagnolo and Jenna Myers, both of whom have been suspended for two years.

ASADA chairman Richards Ings said the agency had taken over the case from the now defunct Australian Sports Drug Agency (ASDA).

"There is an investigation in place, and ASADA has now assumed responsibility for that investigation," he said.

Ings said if the agency decided Van Tienen had a case to answer, the matter would then be referred to an independent tribunal. He said it would be dealt with as fairly and swiftly as possible, but acknowledged the process may not be completed by the time Van Tienen is due to compete in the 69kg category on Saturday night.

 Van Tienen, who has not been charged with any offence, remains a member of the Australian team. Given that she would be able to appeal against any adverse finding, it seems certain she will take her place on the platform as scheduled.

ASADA, which was created by an act of federal parliament, has more investigative power than its predecessor. But it will not be able to compel witnesses to give evidence, nor to exercise search warrants.

Ings, a former leading professional tennis umpire, said ASADA had the power to refer its investigations to police.

The advantage of having the testing and investigation done by the same body means drug tests can be better directed towards those suspected of cheating, he said.

ASADA has professional investigators who can target not only athletes, but also doctors, physiotherapists, pharmacists, coaches, agents and the like.

They also fall under the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) code.

Sports Minister Rod Kemp, who launched ASADA in Melbourne today, said it would "enhance Australia's reputation as a world leader in the fight against doping in sport".

Board members include lawyer and businessman Geoffrey Levy, former Olympic swimmer Nicole Livingstone and prominent sports doctor Brian Sando.