Scientists have found a method to determine whether Russian doping samples at the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi were tampered with, International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach has told dpa.
It could be an important breakthrough as the IOC is looking into wide-ranging doping practices and cover-up schemes in Russia, outlined in reports by anti-doping investigator Richard McLaren.
"A few weeks ago a method was found in which the scratches on the test sample bottles can undergo a valid forensic examination," Bach said during his visit to the world athletics championships Friday and Saturday.
The method, created under the leadership of the forensic institute in Lausanne, Switzerland, could prove whether the 28 samples in question were secretly opened at the Sochi Games to conceal positive tests - according to McLaren with the help of the secret service FSB.
Two IOC commissions are dealing with the Russian affair, and Bach said he hoped that results would be available "as soon as possible" and possible sanctions - by the respective sports federations - imposed by October.
Bach did not want to rule out anything which means that the Russian team could also face a blanket ban for the next Winter Games in Pyeongchang in February, depending on the findings of the IOC commissions.
The IOC decided against such a measure at last year's Rio Olympics and was criticised for it.
