Nine track and field athletes suspended for doping
President of the World Anti-Doping Agency John Fahey (L) speaks as President of FINA Rene Bouchard (R) watches on during a World Anti Doping Agency Briefing ahead of the 2012 London Olympic Games at the Main Press Centre on July 25, 2012 in London, England.
The 2012 London Olympics have not even started but nine athletes were suspended today for doping.
AP reports the sport's governing body said today that six were caught in biological passport tests, which measure changes in an athlete's blood profile. The others were in retroactive testing from the championships in Daegu, South Korea.
Eight of the athletes received two-year suspensions and one drew a four-year ban.
The IAAF characterized the cases as "sophisticated doping," including one involving human growth hormone and two tied to synthetic testosterone.
IAAF President Lamine Diack says the announcement shows that track authorities will "do everything in our power to eradicate cheating."
The Athens Games produced an Olympic record 26 doping cases. Six medalists, including two gold winners, were caught in the Greek capital.
Every medallist, and up to 50% of all competing athletes, will be tested over the course of the Games, said The Guardian.