Olympic ban threat for Spaniards

Spain's women's hockey team could be banned from the Olympics after two squad members gave positive drugs tests at a qualifying tournament.

The players must now plead their cases to an International Hockey Federation commission before the end of June.

According to FIH rules, if more than one member of a team tests positive, the whole team can be thrown out.

Spain claim their food at the event in Azerbaijan was sabotaged. If they are barred, Azerbaijan would replace them.

We are absolutely positive that the two girls had nothing to do with this - I would bet my life on it Spanish hockey chief Marti Colomer

The Spanish hockey authorities says there is evidence the positive tests are part of a deliberate attempt to unsettle the team during the Olympic qualifying tournament.

They have levelled a number of accusations at the organisers, including claims a number of their players fell ill after drinking water given to them by the organisers during matches.

Spanish Hockey Federation (RFEH) president Marti Colomer told Spanish sports daily AS last month that he was convinced his players were not drug cheats.

"We believe the positives were for a powerful stimulant, an amphetamine or something like that," said Colomer.

"We are absolutely positive that the two girls had nothing to do with this. I would bet my life on it."

The Azerbaijan Hockey Federation has not commented on the Spanish allegations.