SYDNEY - Allegations that four West Indian cricketers were involved in match-fixing were old and unsubstantiated, the International Cricket Council said today.

ICC anti-corruption unit boss Sir Paul Condon also said he could categorically deny the allegations related to any of the matches played in Australia this summer.

He said the claims of a "stack of fresh allegations", published by London's Observer newspaper and picked up by Australian papers today, related to matches in the 1980s and the story unfairly tarnished players in the international tri series completed last week.

"The article contained no new information and is a repackaging of unsubstantiated allegations relating to the 1980s," Sir Paul said in a statement issued in Melbourne, where he addressed the ICC's executive board meeting over the weekend.

"The recycling of reports in the British Sunday press has unfairly tarnished the reputations of players involved in the Australian series."

Sir Paul warned the media of the need for responsibility in handling such allegations.

"We will vigorously pursue any information about the full range of matters we are investigating," he said.

"But we will be equally vigourous in dealing with recycled speculation."

"The time has come for some journalists who are recycling this sort of information to put up or shut up."

The Observer said the allegations, including names and precise sums of money, were revealed in a 13-page document submitted to the ICC.

© 2001 AAP