New figures published today by the Paralympic Movement's governing body have revealed that the IPC directed 863 urine and 106 blood tests on disability athletes last year, an increase of 66 per cent on 2009, due to major events such as the Vancouver Winter Paralympics and the Guangzhou Asian Para Games.

Peter Van de Vliet, the IPC's Medical and Scientific Director, said: "In 2010 we not only increased the number of tests but also did more targeted testing on athletes we believed were most at risk of anti-doping rule violations.

"This intelligence paid dividends with us catching and dealing with more athletes who had committed anti-doping rule violations than ever before outside the Paralympic Games.

"It sends out a clear message to athletes that there is no hiding place and we hope the other Federations in the Paralympic Movement complement our efforts.

"Our intelligence is improving all the time and as a signatory of the World Anti-Doping Code (WADC) the IPC is committed to providing a doping free sporting environment."

In total, seven athletes committed Anti-Doping Violations in 2010 and were sanctioned under the IPC's Result Management Authority.

Four were from IPC powerlifting, two from wheelchair dance sport and one from wheelchair curling.

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