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Xtra Time Web Desk: Just 10 days before the start of the biggest sporting extravaganza, the organizers of the Tokyo Olympics were rocked with the news of four Olympic staffs allegedly using cocaine. Four electricians from the United States and Britain who came to Japan to work on the Tokyo Olympics have been arrested on suspicion of using cocaine, police said Tuesday. They were arrested between July 3 and 5, but have denied the allegations, according to the police.

The four had entered Japan between February and May to take part in maintenance work for electric generators used at venues for the Tokyo Games, commencing their duties after completing 14-day quarantine.

On July 2, all four were drinking at a bar in the capital's central Roppongi district from around 8 p.m. After leaving the bar, one of the suspects trespassed at a nearby apartment, prompting the police to hurry to the scene, according to the police.

A drugs test on the four men revealed cocaine use, they said.

Olympic minister Tamayo Marukawa said at a press conference Tuesday, "If (their crime) proves to be true, it's an incident that could damage the image of the games. It's really unfortunate."

The four, who are suspected of using cocaine between July 3 and 4, are employees of Tokyo-based Aggreko Events Services Japan, a local subsidiary of a foreign-owned firm dealing with electric generators.