ZURICH – Bahrain's Olympic 1,500 meters champion Rashid Ramzi has been stripped of his gold medal for doping, a source within the Olympic movement said on Wednesday.

Ramzi's positive test for the banned blood-booster CERA was announced in April after samples from the Beijing Olympics were re-tested.

Four other athletes have also been sanctioned for doping, the source told Reuters.

The International Olympic Committee is expected to make an announcement at 8 a.m. EST.