Doping-IOC will rule on Belarus hammer throwers by mid-October

ATHENS, Sept 21 (Reuters) - The International Olympic Committee (IOC) said on Sunday it would decide by mid-October on the doping cases of two Belarus hammer throw Olympic medallists who tested positive during the Beijing Games.

The IOC also said a Polish athlete who was fourth in the men's kayak double 1000 metres event in Beijing was being investigated for possible anti-doping rule violations.

The IOC said its disciplinary committee, which met on Sunday, had decided to give the athletes from Belarus more time to present their case.

"The meeting was convened to deal with adverse analytical findings for Vadim Devyatovskiy...Ivan Tsikhan...and Adam Seroczynski who placed fourth in the men's kayak double (K2) 1000m event," the IOC said in a statement.

Devyatovskiy took silver in the hammer at August's Games with a best throw of 81.61 and his compatriot, world champion Tsikhan, won bronze with a throw of 81.51. Primoz Kozmus of Slovenia won the gold medal.

"The IOC disciplinary commission gave the two Belarussian hammer throwers the opportunity to provide further information until 17 October 2008. The decision by the commission will be taken once this information has been analysed," the statement said.

"The decision concerning the Polish canoeist will be issued by the IOC disciplinary commission on 8 October 2008," it said. (Reporting by Karolos Grohmann, Editing by Clare Fallon)