Six athletes were found positive for a new generation of EPO after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) further analyzed the samples from last year's Beijing Olympic Games.

The IOC announced Wednesday through a statement that seven positive results concerning six athletes were found out of 948 samples that were analyzed.

This added to the nine positive cases announced by the IOC from the Olympics.

The IOC conducted 847 tests for the new version of the endurance- enhancing hormone EPO, CERA while seven turned positive. The 101 tests for insulin all produced negative results.

"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 Arne Ljungqvist, Chairman of the IOC Medical Commission. "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."

In accordance with the IOC's usual procedures, the IOC is notifying the athletes of positive results through their National Olympic Committee (NOC).

The athletes are entitled to have hearings.

Pending the decision by the IOC, appropriate steps can be taken by the relevant International Federations, in particular with respect to provisional suspension.

The largest ever testing program was conducted in the Beijing Olympics when about 4,770 tests were carried out including 3,801 urine and 969 blood tests during the 29-day period from 27 July until 24 August 2008.

The IOC announced in October 2008 that they would retest all the samples from the Beijing Games after a new way to detect CERA helped catch four riders in the Tour de France.

The IOC promised earlier that they would store all samples for eight years for retesting in case a new testing method come along.

(Xinhua News Agency April 29, 2009)