Spike in doping cases ahead of China's national games

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China's anti-doping authorities Wednesday said eight athletes had tested positive in the second quarter of the year, including one through the biological passport.

All of these athletes have been suspended provisionally while they wait for their respective sport associations to decide on punishments.

The athletes came from sports including athletics, body building, boxing and kayaking, and were split evenly between men and women, the China Anti-Doping Agency (CHINADA) announced.

Among them, Wang Jiali became the first athlete caught via the biological passport program which monitors an athlete's blood profile over time to detect signs of doping. China introduced the scheme in April 2012.

By far there have been 12 doping cases this year, leveling the total of last year and one of the positive cases happened during boxing preliminaries of the coming Chinese National Games.

CHINADA head He Zhenwen said the rise in number of positive cases may have something to do with the key competition.

"The number of positive cases has largely increased compared with that of last year, which sent us a warning," said He.

"There always will be someone who risks doping for unfair advantage when the return is lucrative," said He. "History taught us that the national games could well be the reason for cheating."

The national games, inaugurated in 1959, drew teams representing provinces, municipalities and autonomous region.

The national games program includes most Olympic sports. Good results at the games are viewed as work achievements of provincial sport bureaus and usually bring medal winners even higher rewards than international titles do.

This year's national games will be held in northern province Liaoning on Aug. 31 through to Sept. 12.

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