Athletes will be tested for the banned performance-enhancing drug EPO at the Sydney Olympics next month.

The International Olympic Committee has announced two separately developed detection tests - one from France involving urine and the other from Australia using blood - will be used in conjunction with each other.

The final approval came from the IOC's judicial commission who decided the tests could be defended in a court of law if any athlete tried to challenge the findings.

The IOC medical commission and a team of seven outside scientists recently concluded the Australian test for EPO - otherwise known as 'erythropoietin' - based on blood sampling could not be reliably used on its own.

But in conjunction with the French method based on urine sampling, the two could be reliably used to detect EPO as they were complementary.

EPO, which is currently undetectable, boosts the body's red blood cell count and enhances the blood's ability to transport oxygen to the muscles, thereby increasing stamina.

The announcement has the backing of Britain's world 10,000m silver medallist Paula Radcliffe, who for several years has insisted the International Olympic Association and International Amateur Athletic Federation have not done enough testing to deter cheating.

Radcliffe, after finishing third in today's 3,000m race at Gateshead, said: "I didn't realise it had gone through. That's fantastic. I hope it will work out to everyone's advantage."

Radcliffe, who wears a red ribbon on her racing vest as an indicator she wants athletes tested more regularly for EPO, added: I'll still wear my red ribbon as a symbol - not for actual blood testing but for better testing.

"I hope all athletes will be tested. But the chances are it will only be the endurance ones. Still, I think the decision is great."