IAAF re-test gold medallists

Three gold medallists from the 2005 World Championships have returned "adverse findings" following the re-testing of doping samples.

Belarusian pair Ivan Tsikhan and Nadzeya Ostapchuk and Russian Olga Kuzenkova all won gold in Helsinki eight years ago but are now the subject of disciplinary procedures.

Tsikhan won the men's hammer, Ostapchuk the women's shot put and Kuzenkova the women's hammer.

Andrei Mikhnevich, a Belarusian shot putter, countryman Vadim Devyatovskiy, who claimed silver in the men's hammer, and Tatyana Kotova, the silver medallist in the women's long jump for Russia, make up the six.

The International Association of Athletics Federations re-tested samples taken in Helsinki last year, and president Dick Pound believes the findings confirm the sport's commitment to rooting out those suspected of foul play.

Pound said: "The IAAF's message to cheaters is increasingly clear that, with constant advancements being made in doping detection, there is no place to hide.

"This re-testing is just the latest example of the IAAF's firm resolve to expose cheating in our sport. The IAAF will continue to do everything in its power to ensure the credibility of competition, and where the rules have been broken, will systematically uncover the cheats."

Ostapchuk is currently banned from competition for 12 months after being stripped of her Olympic gold medal at London 2012 for failing a drugs test.

Devyatovskiy and Tsikhan had their silver and bronze medals from the 2008 Olympics taken away after being found guilty of doping only to get them back following an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.