Legendary hurdler Edwin Moses called for stricter measures to control drug abuse in sport, saying reports of a number of star athletes testing positive did not "surprise" him at all.

"I have no knowledge about what athletes are doing these days. I have left the track and field scene a long time ago. But I am not surprised that so many top athletes are testing positive. Virtually nothing surprises me," Moses said.

Moses, who is in Delhi in connection with the Hero Indian Sports Academy awards, said sports governing bodies may have to play a greater role in curbing the menace of drugs in sport.

Asked whether reports of nine Olympic gold medals winner Carl Lewis having tested positive came as a surprise to him, Moses replied: "Not really. I was out of the country when the news broke out. It is sad news but I am not really surprised.

"I had always kept myself away from drugs during my career. I believe that athletes were more clean in those days. We were conscious of our image," Moses, won the 400 metres hurdles at 1976 and '84 Olympics, said.

Reports about star sprinter Carl Lewis failing a drug test during trials for the 1988 Seoul Olympics has taken the sporting world by surprise but Moses said it would not tarnish the image of US athletes.

"Just because one or two test positive does not mean that all athletes are not clean. It will be unfair for all the other athletes," he said.

Moses said he had heard about some Indian athletes also testing positive in recent times. "I have heard about some of the things going on in India last night. But I am not in a position to comment," he added.