Up to 31 athletes from six sports could be banned from Rio Olympics as Beijing doping samples retested

The athletes, from 12 different countries, may be stopped from travelling to the Rio Olympic Games, with further retests of London 2012 samples to come

Photo: Mario Roberto Durán Ortiz (CC2.0)

In a fight to ensure a clean Olympic Games, the International Olympic Committee have announced that as many as 31 athletes could be banned from attending Rio 2016 after their doping samples from Beijing 2008 were retested.

Over 450 samples from the Beijing Games were selected for retesting using the latest scientific analysis - using tests that were not available to anti-doping officials in 2008.

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Stuart Clarke is a News Associates trained journalist who has worked for the likes of the British Olympic Associate, British Rowing and the England and Wales Cricket Board, and of course Cycling Weekly. His work at Cycling Weekly has focused upon professional racing, following the World Tour races and its characters.