A second photograph has been discovered showing a group of the Spain's Olympic athletes making slit-eyed gestures.

In the image, which was found on the official website of the Spanish Tennis Federation, players and support staff from the country's Federation Cup Team are seen pulling their eyes back alongside the caption "Estamos preparados para China" - "We are prepared for China". It is thought to have been taken in April, prior to the team playing their Chinese counterparts in the semi-final of the competition - the leading team event for female tennis players.

Visible in the picture are Nuria Llagostera Vives, Anabel Medina Garrigues and Carla Suarez-Navarro, who are all at present competing in Beijing.

The discovery comes days after a photograph showing the Spanish Olympic basketball team making the same gestures emerged. It was part of an advert that appeared in Marca, Spain best-selling newspaper, and was meant to promote the country's involvement in the 2008 Games.

No offence is believed to have been intended by the photographs and, as yet, Olympic organisers have not issued a complaint in regard to either of them, but the pictures have caused much adverse comment, particularly in the United States.

Luis Aragones, the former manager of the national football team, was heard in 2004 calling the France striker Thierry Henry a "black shit", shortly before home supporters racially abused Ashley Cole and Shaun Wright-Phillips during a friendly between Spain and England in Madrid.

British Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton then suffered similar taunts during a practice race in Barcelona earlier this year.