MADRID, May 21: The Spanish women hockey team’s place at the Beijing Olympics is in jeopardy after it emerged that two of their players tested positive for banned substances at an Olympic qualifying event in Baku last month.

But Spanish hockey authorities have said there is evidence that the positives were part of a deliberate attempt to sabotage the team’s chances during the tournament in Azerbaijan.

“The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has notified us about them (positive tests),” Spanish Hockey Federation (RFEH) President Marti Colomer told sports daily AS on Wednesday.

“We believe the positives were for a powerful stimulant, an amphetamine or something like that.”

Players and coaching staff complained about the organisation of the Olympic qualifying tournament on their return from Azerbaijan.—Reuters