THE Gwent company behind a supplement used by two Welsh athletes at the centre of the Commonwealth Games doping scandal have launched an internal investigation.

Brynmawr-based Mountain Fuel say they are confident that their products are not connected to the issue, following the revelation that Welsh athletics co-captain Rhys Williams had failed a drugs test, just a week after close friend and teammate Gareth Warburton was suspended for a similar offence.

The pair both used Mountain Fuel supplements, but the company maintains that no products on banned lists are contained in its supplements, which cost £1.75 per sachet.

Both athletes saw their Glasgow 2014 dreams shattered as a result of the findings that rocked Team Wales on Friday before the medal rush on Saturday.

Williams, the 30-year-old son of rugby union great JJ Williams, said he was "utterly devastated" by the news of his failed test and insisted, like 800m runner Warburton, that he had never knowingly doped.

In a statement posted on the Mountain Fuel Facebook page yesterday, the company, which is owned by Darren Foote, from Brynmawr, said: “We, along with thousands of athletic fans are hugely disappointed that Rhys Williams and his stable mate Gareth Warburton have failed anti-doping tests and are unable to compete in the Commonwealth games.

“In the run up to the games both athletes were tested while using Mountain Fuel and results were clear so it was a great shock when news broke about the failed tests.”

It goes on to say that Mountain Fuel is confident that their 'tamper proof sachets are not connected to the issue'.

But the company are having batch tests carried out on the sachets of the product, which is described as being nutritionally balanced to ensure an athlete's body is fuelled for maximum performance.

They add that they are reassured that their ingredients supplier is one of the few that has achieved Informed Sport status, a quality assurance programme for sports nutrition products, which certifies that all ingredients have been tested for banned substances.

“We, along with thousands of fans wish Rhys and Gareth the best of luck in their appeals”, the company added.

The results of the tests are expected by Wednesday or Thursday of this week.