More drugs scandals in Athens

Athletics was embroiled in three more drugs scandals today as Olympic chiefs remained adamant that doping revelations would not tarnish the final build-up to the Games here in Athens.

American world 400metres champion Jerome Young, Turkey's European 1500m gold medallist Sureyya Ayhan and Ireland's top distance runner Cathal Lombard were all embroiled in controversies as International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge insisted the Games were "too strong" to be affected by the gloomy news.

Reports that Young has failed the second drugs test of his career, this time for EPO - the blood-boosting drug, and faces a lifetime ban have dismayed the sport in America whose reputation has suffered badly since the fall-out of the BALCO scandal this year.

Ayhan, who would have been one of Kelly Holmes's main rivals for gold in the 1500m, has pulled out of Athens citing injury but was today battling to salvage her reputation. Turkish news reports claim the real reason she will not compete is she is suspected by the International Association of Athletics Federations of submitting someone else's urine sample during a dope test.

Meanwhile, Lombard was flying to Dublin from his Italian base for a hearing with the Athletics Association of Ireland after testing positive for EPO. Lombard, due to run the 5,000m and 10,000m in Athens, faces a two-year ban if found guilty. Jack MacGouran, the Irish Olympic press attache, said the runner would be asked to explain himself today and "if he doesn't he will not be in the Irish Olympic team".

Irish athletics officials believe the news is a disaster for sport in their country but IAAF officials will be more alarmed by the possible downfall of two major international champions, Young and Ayhan.