Cheats will be caught but lay off record breakers, says IOC

Drugs cheats at London 2012 will be caught but athletes who put in world record-breaking performances should be given the benefit of the doubt, the Olympics’ world body said yesterday.

The International Olympics Committee said critics concerned after Chinese Olympic swimmer Ye Shiwen, 16, took five seconds off her personal best and over a second off the world record in the 400m individual medley should “get real”.

“These are the world’s best athletes competing at the very highest level,” said IOC communications director Mark Adams. “We have seen all sorts of records broken already all over the place.”