Drug retesting discovers 23 suspected cheaters at 2012 London Games

Twenty-three athletes are now suspected of doping at the 2012 London Games after Olympic officials reanalyzed hundreds of stored samples as part of an ongoing crackdown.

The International Olympic Committee announced the test results on Friday, adding to a list of more than 30 athletes from the 2008 Beijing Games whose samples tested positive earlier this month.

Officials have reexamined hundreds of stored samples using new scientific methods and targeting athletes who have a chance to qualify for the upcoming 2016 Summer Olympics.

“We want to keep the dopers away from the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro,” IOC President Thomas Bach said. “This is why we are acting swiftly now.”

As was the case with the Beijing samples, the IOC declined to identify the London athletes who tested positive. Proceedings against them will begin once their national Olympic committees and international federations are notified.

david.wharton@latimes.com

Twitter: @LATimesWharton