CHINA: OLYMPICS - China says heavier punishment and more frequent tests are required to fight against doping in the 2008 Olympics

Despite a marked improvement in China's fight against the use of drugs in sports, heavier punishment must be implemented to make the situation better, a Chinese official said during the opening of the "Anti - doping 40 Years Exhibit". China kicked off an exhibit on anti-doping exhibit in Beijing on Wednesday (January 17) -- part of a string of events leading up to the 2008 Olympics -- to heighten awareness of performance enhancing drugs. Samples of drugs such as amphetamines, ephedrine and salbutamol which reduces feelings of tiredness and allows users to compete at maximal levels for longer, were displayed at the exhibit as well as panels outlining China's anti-doping history. The country was suspected of systematic doping when its athletes were at the centre of several big scandals in the 1990s. Last August anti-doping officials unearthed 450 doses of EPO, testosterone and steroids during a raid on a Liaoning athletics school's training camp. But officials hope a tough anti-doping law enacted in 2004 has reduced the possibility of embarrassment when the Olympic Games come to town next year. "We will increase the punishment for performance-enhancing substances users. We have been doing more tests in China and have been raising the punishment level. In recent years, we have accomplished a lot in terms of anti-doping activities. Our rate of those who tested positive is lower than the international level," said Yang Zhu'an, Vice President of the Olympic Games Organising Committee. Yang said he was weary of those who were still willing to risk their athletic careers to cheat. "We need a clean competition environment. But I cannot eliminate the possibility of some people who lack professional ethics, wanting to take the risk. So we want heavier punishment. The rest of the society will despise them," he added, saying of the 4,500 tests which will be conducted at the Beijing Olympics was likely to catch some cheats. Beijing also affirmed its commitment to co-operate with the Olympic committee in battling anti-doping. "Food security issue is an international problem and it has been raising a lot of concerns from the international community. Some of the health food actually has forbidden substances. The Olympic committee has been making efforts and called on us to take measures. We should all work together to solve difficulties," Yuan Hong, Director of the Beijing Olympic Committee Anti-doping Office, said, referring to food and dietary supplement pills which contain banned substances. Beijing Olympic officials said despite the drive to discourage use of banned substances, usage was showing signs of spreading to the general population. China was suspected of systematic doping when its athletes were at the centre of several big scandals in the 1990s but a tough anti-doping law enacted in 2004 has reduced the possibility of embarrassment when the Olympic Games come to town next year.

ITN Source | January 18, 2007

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