Seven athletes failed drug tests at world track championships

International track-and-field officials announced Friday that seven athletes failed drug tests at last month’s world championships in Moscow.

The International Assn. of Athletics Federations said that it collected urine samples from 538 athletes during the competition and also conducted 1,919 blood tests.

“I am delighted that with the assistance of our partners the IAAF has been able to carry out such a comprehensive anti-doping testing program in Moscow,” IAAF President Lamine Diack said. “The specialized analyses and the blood samples taken in connection with the Athlete Biological Passport emphasize the IAAF’s firm commitment and resolve to use the most sophisticated methods at our disposal in the fight against cheating in sport.”

The championships made headlines last summer when a number of high-profile athletes -- including numerous Jamaicans -- tested positive in the weeks beforehand.

Marquee sprinters Tyson Gay, Asafa Powell and Sherone Simpson were among the athletes forced to withdraw from the meet.

Once the event began, only one finalist was found to have a banned substance in his system. Roman Avramenko, a javelin thrower from the Ukraine, tested positive for steroids.

Two female sprinters also tested positive for steroids and a male Afghani sprinter tested positive for a metabolite of nandrolone. Two race walkers and a marathoner were caught using EPO.

All seven athletes have been sanctioned or provisionally suspended.

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