Six Beijing athletes produce positive dope tests

SILVER medallist Davide Rebellin is reported to be one of six Olympians to have tested positive for doping in the retesting of Beijing samples.

TAINTED SILVER? Olympic road race silver medallist David Rebellin, pictured left, is one of six Beijing athletes to fail a drugs test, after samples were reanalysed (Getty Images)

The International Olympic Committee tested 948 samples from Beijing after new tests for Cera and insulin became available after the Olympics.

And according to Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport, 37-year-old Rebellin - who finished second in the cycling road race - is one of the six. t;

The IOC has revealed a total of seven positive tests, involving six athletes who came back positive for Cera - a version of the endurance-enhancing hormone EPO.

The Italian Olympic Committee confirmed a male Italian athlete had tested positive but declined to identify him.

Meanwhile, The Associated Press are reporting that two cyclists, three track and field athletes and one weightlifter are the six Olympians to have failed the reanalysed tests.

"The further analysis of the Beijing samples that we conducted should send a clear message that cheats can never assume that they have avoided detection," said IOC medical commission chairman Arne Ljungqvist.

"The vast majority of athletes do not seek an unfair advantage. We intend to do all we can to ensure that they have a fair environment for competition."

The IOC tested 948 samples from Beijing after new tests for Cera became available after the Olympics last August.

Rebellin captured a third victory in the Fleche Wallonne - one of the Ardennes Classic races, last week.