IAAF confirms at least six athletes tested positive for banned stimulant

Istvan Gyulai, the general secretary of the International Association of Athletics Federations, confirmed last night that between six and eight athletes had tested positive for the new stimulant modafinil following the re-testing of samples taken at the US Championships.

The positive findings have been an indirect product of the re-evaluation of the samples in the light of new data concerning the so-called "designer steroid" tetrahydrogestrinone (THG).

Gyulai added that Britain's European 100 metres champion, Dwain Chambers, who has admitted testing positive for THG out of competition on 1 August, will have his B sample tested within the next nine days at the Los Angeles laboratory which produced the original finding.

Chambers is also obliged to provide the IAAF, who carried out his test at a training venue in Saarbrucken, Germany, with an explanation for the positive finding. Should the IAAF remain unsatisfied, Chambers will be suspended and required to request an appeal hearing within 21 days.

The IAAF has agreed in principle to re-test 405 samples from this summer's World Championships in Paris in the light of the latest data, but Gyulai said the process would have to wait until all five B samples had been processed from the five athletes - including Chambers - who have so far tested positive for THG.

Two American footballers confirmed they are among several Oakland Raiders players subpoenaed to testify before a federal grand jury investigating the laboratory at the centre of the allegations over THG.

The defensive tackle Dana Stubblefield said on Monday he was subpoenaed "a while ago", but does not know exactly when he will be in court. The running-back Tyrone Wheatley also said he was subpoenaed in the case involving the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative, or Balco.