The International Olympic commitee says five athletes who tested positive for doping after blood sample re-tests from the 2008 Beijing Olympics will learn their fate in December.
Bahrain's Olympic 1500 metres gold medallist Rashid Ramzi, who could have his medal stripped from him - elevating New Zealand's Nick Willis to silver - and four other athletes tested positive for the blood booster CERA.
All first-time doping offenders could face a two-year suspension while second-time offenders are liable to a lifetime ban.
The positive results came in April after the IOC retested 948 athletes' samples, focusing mainly on endurance events in cycling, rowing, swimming and athletics.
Nine other athletes tested positive during the Games as well as six horses in the equestrian events.
The IOC conducted the largest ever doping operation with about 5,000 blood and urine tests during the Beijing Games.
