IOC targets Olympic retests in ramped-up drug fight

The IOC also said its budget for anti-doping tests is being doubled to $500,000 (447,000 euros) between now and August's Olympics in Rio. More than 50 new doping cases have come to light so far from the reanalysis of samples from the Beijing and London Olympics.

Urine samples from Chinese athletes are recorded upon arriving at China Anti-Doping Agency in Beijing. ( File photo)

Olympic medallists from the Beijing and London Games will be targeted as a priority as the reanalysis of old samples is reinforced and expanded, the International Olympic Committee said on Wednesday.

The IOC also said its budget for anti-doping tests is being doubled to $500,000 (447,000 euros) between now and August's Olympics in Rio.

"The reanalysis programme for samples from the Games of Beijing 2008 and London 2012 will be enlarged," said the IOC, whose executive committee is holding a series of meetings in Lausanne until Friday.

"In collaboration with the World Anti-doping Agency (WADA), we will target the medallists from these two editions of the Games to be eventually reanalysed."

More than 50 new doping cases have come to light so far from the reanalysis of samples from the Beijing and London Olympics.

The new measures will add to the "vast programme already in place by the international federations and the national anti-doping organisations", the IOC added.

"Particular attention will be paid to the countries where the anti-doping programme is not compliant -- Kenya, Russia and Mexico."

The IOC will also concentrate on sports WADA considers to be the "worst affected" by doping.

A meeting will be held in Lausanne on June 21 aimed at "coordinating and harmonising the approach of international federations" towards the "eligibility" of athletes at future Games, the IOC said.

The meeting will be attended by the IOC, international federations and national Olympic committees.