The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) has declined to drop the cases against two Bulgarian top athletes accused of doping.

Bulgaria’s athletics federation cleared high jumper Venelina Veneva and 400-meter sprinter and hurdler Vanya Stambolova, saying that their positive tests for testosterone were “inconclusive”, Agence France-Presse (AFP) said.

IAAF said that it was “disappointed in the decision taken by the Bulgarian Federation which is not in accordance with IAAF Rules”.

The association intends to submit the cases to its doping review board. The board has the power to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport to overturn the Bulgarian ruling.

Both athletes tested positive in drug tests that took place in Budapest, Hungary, on January 24 2007. The tests were unannounced and out-of-competition. Veneva tested positive again in Sofia on February 6 2007, AP said.

Bulgarian federation chairman Dobri Karamarinov said test results on the second samples were “very borderline.” “That is why we do not consider the results as convincing enough to impose sanctions on the athletes,” he said.