14 Russian athletes suspected of doping at Beijing Olympics - ROC
By Sky Sports News HQ
Last Updated: 24/05/16 5:58pm
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has informed the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) that 14 Russian athletes are suspected of doping at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
It was revealed by the IOC last week that 31 athletes from 12 countries, competing in six different sports, could be banned from this year's Olympic Games in Rio after 454 doping samples from Beijing were re-tested.
The tests were focused on the doping samples of those athletes who are expected to go to Rio this summer.
The ROC has now received the respective documents from the IOC which confirm that 14 of the 31 athletes are Russian.
The names of the athletes have not been revealed but the majority are reportedly track and field athletes.
And one of those athletes appears to be high jumper Anna Chicherova who won a bronze medal in Beijing and followed it up by winning Olympic gold at London 2012.
Her coach Yevgeny Zagorulko said: "Three days ago, Anna received a notice that her doping sample from the Beijing Olympic tested positive after a re-check and she called me.
"So far, this is at the development stage and this has not yet been finally confirmed. But all are aware of this and are dealing with the issue."
The athletes involved still have the chance to have their B samples tested, but Russia's athletics federation has said it will not allow athletes who had been caught doping in previous years into the Russian team for the Rio Olympics.
Russia was suspended by the IAAF, athletics' world governing body, in November after being accused of "state-sponsored" doping in a report commissioned by WADA.
A decision on whether they will be reinstated for the Rio Olympics will be announced on June 17.
