45 athletes test positive after reanalysis of 2008, 2012 Games samples

Geneva, July 22 (IANS) A total of 45 athletes, who participated in the 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing and London, respectively, tested positive for banned performance-enhancing drugs following the reanalysis of their doping samples, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said on Friday.

"The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced today that reanalysis of the second wave of samples from Beijing 2008 and London 2012 has resulted in Provisional Adverse Analytical Findings (PAAFs) of 30 athletes from Beijing and Adverse Analytical Findings (AAFs) of 15 athletes from London," the statement said.

The statement comes following the second wave of the doping tests reanalysis, which adding up to the first stage brings the number of the athletes, who tested positive for doping abuse, to 98, reports Tass.

"The latest results bring the total number of athletes who tested positive for prohibited substances from the first and second waves of reanalysis to 98," the statement from the IOC said.

"The third and fourth waves are expected to continue throughout and after the Olympic Games Rio 2016."

According to the IOC statement, the organisation "put special measures in place such as targeted pre-tests of identified sports and countries" with the main aim "to provide a level playing field for all clean athletes at the Olympic Games Rio 2016".

"The second wave of the Beijing 2008 retests focused mainly on medallists, as will subsequent testing," the statement from the IOC said. "Of the 30 latest PAAFs from Beijing 2008, 23 were medallists."

"The 30 athletes were from four sports and eight National Olympic Committees (NOCs)," according to the statement. "The 15 athletes with AAFs from London 2012 represented two sports and 9 NOCs."

IOC President Thomas Bach said commenting on the statement: "The new reanalysis once again shows the commitment of the IOC in the fight against doping."