Drugstores in six cities jointly hosting the Olympic events are required to clearly label the substances in drug products after May 1, China's pharmacy regulator said here on Friday.

Warnings such as "athletes should be careful to use drugs with dope components", will be required in pharmacies in Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Shenyang, Qinghuangdao and Qingdao.

The anti-doping move came amid China's efforts to guarantee the safe use of pharmaceuticals during the Beijing Olympics, according to Zhang Jingli, the State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA) deputy director.

The primary tasks would be focused on the better control and management of hydroxystenozole and peptide hormone, the two most common categories of dope.

Manufacturers of hydroxystenozole and peptide hormone should obtain qualifications and have legal distribution channels, according to SFDA.

Dope-bearing drugs without warnings on package will be banned from sale in the six cities from May 1.

The sale of products manufactured after October 1, 2007, are banned in the country if they are displayed without warnings.

(Xinhua News Agency April 19, 2008)