IOC confirms 45 further failed drugs tests

THE doping scandal surrounding Olympic sports shows no signs of abating after a further 45 athletes were confirmed to have provided samples that contained banned substances.

On Friday the International Olympic Committee (IOC) revealed that reanalysis of samples resulted in positive tests for 30 competitors from the 2008 Beijing Games and 15 from London 2012.

The findings from the second wave of testing bring the total number of failed tests to 98, with two further batches to follow.

"The new reanalysis once again shows the commitment of the IOC in the fight against doping," said IOC president Thomas Bach.

In a statement from the governing body, it was explained that the testing "focused mainly on medallists".

Of the 30 failed tests from Beijing – the results of which are all provisional – 23 were from athletes who had won medals.

The 15 failures from London – which are not provisional – spanned two sports and nine nations.

The relevant National Olympic Committees are set to be informed of the findings, after which proceedings against athletes can begin.

It comes amid Russia's IAAF-imposed ban from the Rio Games, with the Court of Arbitration for Sport having endorsed that ruling on Thursday.

The IOC is expected to announce a decision this week on whether Russia will face a blanket suspension from this year's Games.