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Headlines last updated: 30/06/2009 15.05
IOC TO RETEST 5,000 SAMPLES
The International Olympic Committee has announced that it will retest all frozen samples taken from athletes during the Beijing Games for traces of a new generation of drug.
The decision comes days after a string of cases involving the frozen samples of cyclists from this year's Tour de France.
"The IOC intends to retest the samples collected this summer during the Olympic Games in Beijing," said IOC's Emmanuelle Moreau. "Substances that will be tested for across all sports include EPO CERA."
CERA is blood-boosting drug that improves oxygen flow and therefore improves stamina.
The IOC saw only a handful of positive tests in Beijing after extensive efforts to crack down on doping and avoid having the Games marred by cheats.
It implemented the biggest anti-doping testing programme to date with more than 5,000 tests during the Games and many more prior to the event.
