A late-night doping test conducted on Alpine skier and medal hopeful Elisabeth Goergl hours before she was due to compete was within the rules, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said Thursday, dismissing Austria's complaint.

The Austrians said the testers came at 22:55 local time in Sochi on Tuesday, disrupting her preparations for the Olympic downhill where she placed 16th.

Austria then lodged an official complaint with the IOC.

"That [test] was carried out ­within IOC rules and standards," IOC spokesman Mark Adams told ­reporters.

He said testers were allowed to perform announced or unannounced tests from 06:00 to 23:00 local time whether they pre- or post-competition tests.

"We have a zero tolerance policy on doping," he said.

Goergl had been among the favorites for the race, having won bronze medals in the downhill and giant slalom at the Vancouver Games four years ago and winning world titles in downhill and super-G in 2011.

"It's unfair on the athletes," said Austrian Alpine skiing team sports director Hans Pum. "We're in favor of doping tests but not on the evening or the night before a competition."

This is not the first time athletes and teams have complained about late or frequent tests.

Jamaica were furious over what they said were too many blood tests on subsequent Olympic ­champion Usain Bolt at the Beijing 2008 ­Olympic Games.

Austria has also had a sketchy doping past at Winter Games with Italian police and testers raiding the accommodation of Austrian biathlon and cross-country skiers at the Turin Games in 2006.

More than a dozen athletes were tested, syringes and drugs were found, while a former coach, banned from the Games, fled across the ­border following the raid after a tipoff to authorities.

The IOC will conduct about 2,500 doping tests during the Games, ­including 1,269 pre-competition ­controls. So far no athlete has tested positive for banned substances.

Reuters - Global Times