The Bahrain runner, and four other athletes tested positive for the blood booster CERA (Continuous Erythropoiesis Receptor Activator), the latest generation of Erythropoietin (EPO). 

Gerhard Heiberg, a member of the IOC Executive Committee, said: "A decision will be taken in December [at the IOC executive board]."

He said the executive Board was not planning to meet here where the IOC is currently holding its Congress and annual session but would deal with the issue during a scheduled December meeting in Lausanne.

The positive results came in April after the IOC retested 948 athletes' samples from Beijing, focusing mainly on endurance events in cycling, rowing, swimming and athletics.

Maurice Suh, the Los Angeles-based lawyer representing Ramzi, claims that it is good news for his client that no decision has been announced even though his hearing was held in Lausanne on July 27.

At the time, Ramzi was told to expect a ruling within six weeks.

Abdulrahman Askar, the vice-president of the Bahrain Athletics Association, said: "Ramzi's lawyer told us that the long wait could mean that the IOC is finding it hard to make a decision on his case.

"Obviously, we are only guessing, but this is positive, and we remain confident that the points both Ramzi and his lawyer raised during his hearing have made an impact. 

"Hopefully it results in a favourable outcome.

"But until we hear anything official, we cannot be sure."

At the July enquiry, Suh "questioned the chain of custody, documentation and handling" of Ramzi's samples.

Such faults in the procedure could have had a huge effect on the results of the his blood samples, Suh claimed.

The IOC can strip Ramzi of his results and his Olympic gold medal, and could ban him from the 2012 London Olympics. 

Under new IOC rules, any athlete caught doping and banned for at least six months cannot compete in the next Olympics.

The disciplinary panel was chaired by IOC vice-president Thomas Bach of Germany, and included Heiberg of Norway and Denis Oswald of Switzerland.

Also awaiting to hear their fate are Italy's road race silver medallist Davide Rebellin and German Stefan Schumacher, already banned for doping, were also confirmed positive as were Greece's 2004 Athens Games 20 kilometres walk champion Athanasia Tsoumeleka and Croatian 800m runner Vanja Perisic.

Weightlifter Yudelquis Contreras was initially tested positive but was cleared after her B-sample came back negative.

IOC Medical Director Patrick Schamasch confirmed the IOC would decide by the end of the year.

He said: "A decision will be taken by the end of the year."

Nine other athletes tested positive during the Games as well as six horses in the equestrian events.

The IOC conducted the largest ever doping operation with about 5,000 blood and urine tests during the Beijing Games.


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