US Olympic Committee chairman Peter Ueberroth said China was the favorite to win the medal count in a teleconference devoted partly to 2008 and partly to doping issues.

 

"They'll ... spend more money in preparation of athletes, and they should clearly be favored to win the most medals and win the most gold," Ueberroth was quoted by AP.

 

The Americans have won the medal count in the last three Summer Olympics. In Athens, they reached their widely publicized goal of winning 100 medals.

 

Ueberroth and chief executive Jim Scherr also emphasized the need for the US team to win fairly and without drug problems.

 

"We want to take a clean team to the Games," AP quoted Scherr as saying. "If that means we win zero medals, that's fine. It's not how many medals we win; it's how we win those medals."

 

The US sports reputation was dealt a second blow when the Olympic and world 100 meters champion Justin Gatlin said he had failed a test for testosterone or its precursors on Saturday. He may face a life ban for a second offence as the 100 meters world record co-holder had failed a dope test in 2001.

 

Tour de France champion Floyd Landis tested positive for testosterone last week, rocking the American sports again following the BALCO laboratory doping scandal.

 

(Xinhua News Agency August 4, 2006)