German lab's new test detects steroids six months after use

A German anti-doping laboratory has found 266 positive cases in the past year using a new steroid test and is finding other positives in retesting of old samples.

According to The Age, the lab found 184 cases involving stanozolol, the banned drug used by sprinter Ben Johnson at the 1988 Olympics, and 82 of oral turinabol, a steroid widely used in the former East Germany.

Geyer said many of the positives since November 2012 involved athletics, weightlifting and wrestling, and all were reported to the World Anti-Doping Agency and sports governing bodies, according to the report.

Geyer said that it was surprising for them as they did not expect that many.

However, Geyer said no new cases have been revealed in testing of samples from cyclists, footballers or German athletes, the report mentioned.

The IOC has said the new test will be used at the Winter Olympics in Sochi in February, the report said.

It will also be used in the planned retesting of samples from the 2008 Beijing Olympics before the eight-year statute of limitations expires in 2016, the report added.