WEST Coast will know early this week whether it will have grounds to sue over drug allegations made against midfielder Michael Braun.

Speaking during yesterday's clash against the Kangaroos, West Coast chairman Dalton Gooding said the club should have an answer from its lawyers in the next few days.

Gooding added that the allegations against Braun — made first without naming him in a Melbourne newspaper and then repeated with his name by Channel Seven — that he had used performance-enhancing drugs, had harmed Braun's reputation and that of the Eagles.

He said it had brought an unwanted spotlight on the club, which has had to contend with several major issues off the field, including the banishment of former captain Ben Cousins for substance abuse.

"I think what it has done is refocus (attention) back on our club, on some issues we had earlier in the year," Gooding said on Fox Sports.

"This one's completely without any foundation and that's what's disappointed our club and that's why we're seeking appropriate legal advice and next week we'll start to implement any action if our legal advisors believe we have a good case to chase some people.

"But certainly we're very much standing behind Michael Braun, he's been a very good player for a long time for our club and that's the least our club can do. Indeed it has (damaged Braun's reputation), it's a baseless smear on his reputation and we don't like that as a club. Michael has shown a lot of maturity in the way he's handled it and we'll be supporting him very strongly."