Nov. 23, 1999 7:53 AM Reuters

LONDON, Nov 23 (Reuters) - International marathon officials want athletics leaders to introduce compulsory blood testing in a bid to stamp out the use of banned performancing-enhancing drugs.

London Marathon race director Alan Storey said on Tuesday officials had met recently with the IAAF to ask for a system of blood testing to be established.

He told a media conference: "We have met with the IAAF to discuss it. We would like to see the IAAF introduce it and we would be pleased if they did it as quickly as possible."

Officials denied reports in the British media that next April's London Marathon would carry out blood tests, making compliance a condition of entry.

Blood tests are aimed at eradicating the use of drugs like erythropoietin (EPO), a quick shot-in-the-arm which replaces altitude training and boosts an athlete's oxygen-carrying red blood cells.

Tests to measure the amount of red cells in a competitor's blood have already been used in cycling and cross-country skiing where stamina is as essential as it is in marathon running.

At the world athletics championships in Seville in August Portugal's former world marathon champion Manuela Machado called for systematic blood testing.

However, it is thought extremely unlikley blood testing could be in place for the London Marathon.