IOC urged to test earlier to catch Olympic dopers

MONTREAL — The World Anti-Doping Agency wants the IOC to test athletes earlier before future Olympics to catch drug cheats.

A WADA panel that monitored the anti-doping program at the London Olympics suggests the IOC adopt “more intelligent testing as far in advance of competition as possible” instead of simply conducting more tests.

The panel’s 13-page report published Tuesday says it “expected” the IOC to reanalyze some London samples during the eight-year period they are stored.

The WADA-appointed observers praise the anti-doping program run by the IOC, London organizing committee and UK Anti-Doping.

Eight athletes tested positive, two from in-competition samples, from an Olympic-record 5,132 tests conducted after the athletes village opened.

Women’s shot put winner Nadzeya Ostapchuk of Belarus was the only medalist disqualified.