Ramzi, who is from Morocco but runs for Bahrain, is one of six athletes from last year's Olympics in Beijing who were revealed this week to have been caught out by new tests for the blood-boosting agent CERA (Continuous Erythropoiesis Receptor Activator), the latest generation of Erythropoietin (EPO).

 

He is now set to be stripped of the gold medal he won in the 1500m in the Chinese capital.

 

Coe, who is also a vice-president of the International Association of Athletics Federations, said: "It's abhorrent whenever there is a positive test but I think anyone who ran at our distance will find this a pretty disfiguring moment.

 

"But we have caught him out, that's the important thing.

 

"There is some cause for optimism because -- and this is no idle threat -- we are now much smarter, about how to catch these people.

 

"And for those athletes we have our suspicions about the message is very clear: we will get you.

 

"We are winning the battle, the technology is much better, and we will present the best-possible environment for a drug-free Games in London."