IOC says it won’t rule on positive drug tests

In a major change in the handling of positive drug tests at the Olympics, the IOC agreed Tuesday to remove itself from the process and have a group of independent sports arbitrators rule on doping cases during the games in Rio de Janeiro.

The move is intended to make the prosecution of doping cases more independent by taking it away from the IOC and putting it in the hands of a special panel of the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Under current rules, doping cases during the Olympics are dealt with by a special IOC disciplinary panel appointed by the IOC president.

The IOC has seen “no evidence” so far to support allegations of possible bribery in the bidding for the 2016 and 2020 Games, according to an IOC spokesman.

The committee said it has applied to be a party to the investigation by French authorities into corruption in track and field that could spread to possible bribery in Olympic bidding.

The IOC said it was in “close contact” with French prosecutors, who have been investigating bribery and money-laundering involving doping cover-ups at the International Association of Athletics Federations.