The panel to probe the doping charges against discus thrower Neelam Jaswant Singh will begin its inquiry in the next couple of days, Athletics Federation of India said on Sunday.

"The panel will start its hearings very soon, probably in the next one or two days," AFI Secretary General Lalit Bhanot said in New Delhi [Images], on Sunday.

The hearings got delayed as Neelam had demanded access to some lab reports which took time to arrive, Bhanot said.

The panel, headed by AFI vice-president W I Devaram, the retired director general of Tamil Nadu police, has legendary athlete G S Randhawa, Adille J Sumariwala and secretary of Delhi Medical Association Girish Tyagi as its other members.

It has to complete its probe and present a report to the AFI by the end of October, Bhanot said.

"All the relevant documents have been provided to the panel and it is now up to them to decide how to conduct the proceedings," Bhanot said.

Stressing that it is important that the issue be accorded due confidentiality, he said: "the AFI has no role to play in the hearing."

The panel will decide whether to meet amongst themselves first or to begin by calling Neelam for a hearing, Bhanot added.

The 34-year-old Neelam tested positive for the banned substance pemoline during the World Athletics Championship in Helsinki last month. When her 'B' sample also turned positive, the International Association of Athletics Federations provisionally suspended her.