“The Ministry of Sport is extremely disappointed to hear the speculation that Russian athletes are among those found to have violated anti-doping rules at the 2008 Beijing Olympics after re-testing their samples”, an official statement said.
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Anna Chicherova, a two-time Olympic medalist in the high jump, is among 14 Russian athletes now suspected of using performance-enhancing drugs during the 2008 Beijing Games, according to a Russian media report.
Due to the issue, Russia is now facing a prolonged ban from the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).
All those NOCs are now being notified – with retesting of B-samples expected later this month and the names set to be formally confirmed soon after.
Asked if those athletes bumped up to medal status should be able to stand on the podium in Rio, he said: “Definitely”.
Chicherova took bronze at the 2008 Olympics behind Belgium’s Tia Hellebaut, who won gold, and silver medalist Blanka Vlasic of Croatia.
Russian sports minister Vitaly Mutko said his country was “very sorry” and “ashamed” of cheating athletes who were not caught by its anti-doping systems.
The IAAF will make a decision on June 17 as to whether it plans maintain or lift its ban.
The ROC confirmed they had received the “respective documents” from the International Olympic Committee showing a number of prominent individuals, majority of whom competed in track and field, had recorded adverse analytical findings.
Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during his late-night meeting with the heads of Russia’s sports federations in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, Russia, Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2015. The competitors ranged from 12 countries and six different sports.
Goldie Sayers, who was fourth in the javelin, and Britain’s 4x400m men’s relay team – Martyn Rooney, Robert Tobin, Michael Bingham and Andrew Steele – who also finished fourth, could be bumped up to medal status after prohibited substances were allegedly found in samples from rivals who were placed above them.
Chicherova won the gold in London, clearing 2.05 meters. She was also world champion in 2011.
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The IOC also retested 250 samples from the London Olympics and is still awaiting those results.
