Rogge joy as cheats caught

International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge today described the large number of positive drug tests at the Athens Games as a blessing.

The start of the Games was overshadowed by a doping scandal involving Greece's former 200 metre Olympic champion Kostas Kenteris, who was forced to pull out after missing a drug test.

There have been more than 20 drug cases at the Games and that includes today's positive test for Russian 400m runner Anton Galkin, who was disqualified after proving positive for the steroid stanozolol.

Galkin did not win a medal at the Games. But Rogge, a former surgeon, commented: "Each positive test is a blessing because it eliminates the cheats. The more we find, the better the credibility."

Meanwhile, last night's 200m final was marred by booing from the home fans, many of whom had bought tickets expecting Kenteris to compete.