London, England -- (Sports Network) - The International Olympic Committee sanctioned five athletes on Wednesday for committing anti-doping violations, including stripping the medals of two Beijing Olympians.

The five athletes tested positive for CERA, a version of the endurance- enhancing hormone, EPO. Another athlete avoided sanctions after her "B" sample found no detection of CERA.

Among those sanctioned was Bahrain's Rashid Ramzi, who had placed first in the men's 1500m event in the 2008 Olympics. He will have his gold medal taken away and be subject to further punishment.

Davide Rebellin, an Italian cyclist, will have his silver medal stripped after placing second in the men's cycling road event in Beijing. The others sanctioned include German cyclist Stefan Schumacher, Greek athlete Athanasia Tsoumeleka and Croatian competitor Vanja Perisic.

Dominican weightlifter Yudelquis Maridalin Contreras was not sanctioned after her "B" sample was clean.