OLYMPICS/ Spotlight
More drug tests and Internet crackdown for Olympics
By Lei Lei (China Daily)
Updated: 2007-08-30 09:35
In order to ensure a drug-free Olympic Games next year, unprecedented numbers of athletes will be tested and the illegal Internet trade of performance-enhancing substances will be targeted.
China's State Food and Drug Administration (CSFDA) is ramping up efforts to stamp out the illegal trade of performance-enhancing drugs and continues to throw its weight behind the anti-doping crusade of Chinese sports officials.
"Trading non-prescription medicine through the Internet is illegal in China and all the prohibited drugs for the athletes are non-prescription medicine," CSFDA deputy director for Policy & Regulations Yan Jiangying said.
"If any website is found to trade such prohibited drugs, they will be shut down immediately and severely punished."
Since the State Council of China issued and implemented the "Anti-Doping Regulation of China" in 2004, CSFDA has been active in the war against drug cheats.
Besides monitoring Internet-based trade, the administration also issued detailed regulations for the manufacture and sale of products used for doping.
"According to relative regulations, only authorized companies could manufacture those prohibited drugs, especially anabolic agents and peptide hormones, and only authorized wholesalers could sell them," Yan said.
"All the retailers are not allowed to sell them."
Anabolic agents are prescribed for medical use only, but their use by sportsmen and women may enhance an athlete's performance.
Peptide hormones serve as messengers between different organs and stimulate various bodily functions such as growth, behavior and sensitivity to pain.
"All the medicines that contain those prohibited elements must be labeled clearly to warn athletes to take cautiously," Yan added.
She also said the administration would make greater efforts to train staff and regulate the manufacture and sale of the products.
Since 1990 China has made great strides in the fight against drugs.
The number of screenings reached 9,424 last year and is expected to top 10,000 this year.
"The positive ratio in China has been declining, " Jiang Zhixue, head of the Chinese Olympic Committee Anti-Doping Commission, said.
"The positive samples cover only 0.4 percent now, compared with 1.82 percent in 1990."
The number of doping tests at the Beijing Games will increase to 4,500, up from 3,700 in Athens.
A new laboratory has been built to meet the needs of a comprehensive screening regime.
Located in the Olympic Sports Center, the lab will test between 230 and 280 samples each day during the Games. From July 27 to August 24 in 2008, the laboratory will be running for 24 hours a day.
A total of 41 doping control stations will be set up across all venues - including the Olympic Village - and cars transporting samples will be tailed by armed guards.
Despite the strict doping environment, Beijing will carry out tests in a manner conducive to the athletes' comfort, according to the Beijing Olympic organizing committee (BOCOG).
"We will offer athlete-oriented services during the Beijing Games," BOCOG doping official Chen Zhiyu said.
"We will compile a guide book for doping control at the Games and in the doping control stations, there will be volunteers for languages spoken by smaller group of people.
"We are confident to secure a clean Olympic Games by efficient and high-qualified services."
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