The International Olympic Committee (IOC) warned would-be drug cheats yesterday that their chances of escaping detection were rapidly decreasing.

Researchers in more than six countries were closing in on a way to detect EPO, said IOC executive board member Jacques Rogge. EPO increases the amount of oxygen in the blood, dramatically boosting an athlete's performance. The IOC has given $1 million to an Australian research team and $250,000 to another in southern California. Specialists in Norway, France and Switzerland and five other research centres are also working on the problem.

If a fool-proof test is discovered before the Sydney Olympics, all the means needed to carry out the test are in place. "Let this be a signal for the cheats. They will not know until the very last moment if a test is in place," said Rogge.

He also announced major changes to the way results of tests will be handled.

Up to now only the head of the IOC medical commission was given details of positive tests and there has been widespread suspicion that some positive results have been covered up. Alexandre de Merode, the IOC medical commission chief, admitted accidentally shredding positive test results during the Los Angeles Olympics.

"Now five people, including the head of the medical commission and the head of the drug lab, will be given the findings," said Rogge.

Meanwhile, Linford Christie has been offered alternative training facilities in Australia after being banned from coaching for the Olympics in New South Wales.

Christie has been banned from coaching British athletes by the NSW government after the International Amateur Athletic Federation suspended him from competition - even though he has retired.