There were 19 positive results among the 3,503 urine tests carried out by China's anti-doping authority in 1999, a top Chinese sports leader said in Beijing on Tuesday.

Yuan Weimin, Vice Director of the State General Administration of Sports, said in a meeting that as many as 1,702 of the tests was out-of-competition.

He said all relevant associations have slammed disciplinary sanctions on the violators of the doping regulations, except those who are still under investigation or follow-up probes.

Yuan said his organization also carried out 317 blood tests, including 170 before the National Inter-city Games.

Four athletes, whose blood test results were above the normal level, were not allowed to compete at the Inter-city Games for the sake of their health, Yuan added. (Xinhua)