There have been 26 positive doping cases detected involving
Chinese athletes this year as a result of much stricter controls, a
sports official said in Nanjing on Monday, two days before the 10th
National Games are due to open there.
"It is the last National Games before the Beijing
Olympics in 2008 as well as the first National Games since
China's State Council enacted the Anti-doping Code, so doping
controls this year are tougher than ever," said Zhao Jian, vice
director of the Games' Doping Control Department.
"There will be about 1,600 urine tests in the course of the 10th
National Games, up 20 percent on the ninth edition of the
quadrennial Games," added Zhao.
A total of 24 positive cases were reported in 2001, including 11
cases during the Games. There were only 17 positive cases for the
whole year of 2004.
Zhao said the 26 doping cases so far this year include athletes
who missed tests.
"If an athlete misses two out-of-competition tests, it is
counted as a positive result and the athlete concerned faces at
least a two-year suspension," Zhao said.
Of the 26 cases, 12 athletes come from weightlifting, five from
athletics, and one each from horse racing, rowing, speedskating,
cycling and bodybuilding. Four students also tested positive when
enrolling for the Beijing-based Capital Institute of Physical
Education.
(Xinhua News Agency October 11, 2005)