IAAF touts blood-testing program ahead of track worlds

Track and field's governing body will carry out a "comprehensive blood testing program" at the world championships in Moscow next month as the sport battles to clean up its image.

Athletics rocked by recent doping scandals involving Gay, Powell, Simpson

American Tyson Gay was one of several high profile sprinters to fail doping tests recently. (Alain Grosclaude/AFP/Getty Images)

Track and field's governing body will carry out a "comprehensive blood testing program" at the world championships in Moscow next month as the sport battles to clean up its image.

Athletics has been rocked by several doping scandals, with sprinters Tyson Gay, Asafa Powell and Sherone Simpson among a number of athletes to fail recent tests.

On Wednesday, the IAAF said it will have a "sophisticated anti-doping program" in place in Moscow.

The IAAF will incorporate the findings into its biological passport program and use it to help detect "steroid or growth hormone doping more relevant to the power disciplines."

The passport program monitors an athlete's blood profile over time to look for any signs of doping.

The IAAF will also test approximately 500 urine samples, which will be kept for long-term storage for possible reanalysis.