China Reiterates Anti-Doping StandHe Huixian, the spokeswoman for the Chinese Olympic Committee (COC), said Wednesday that leaving the athletes who had "suspicious blood tests"out of the Olympic team showed China's persistent position and strong will to fight against doping."Since 1998, China has introduced out-of-competition blood tests on the athletes and kept intensifying efforts in combating doping," He said. He said that the COC conducted 317 out-of-competition blood tests in 1999 on athletes from seven sports and found six samples were above normal level. The spokeswoman revealed that in the first half of 2000, the COC conducted 167 blood tests and one was above normal level. "For the purpose of their health and to protect the principles of fair competition, all these athletes were disqualified from competitions," He said. He said China welcomes the International Olympic Committee (IOC)'s decision to check EPO in the coming Sydney Olympic Games with both blood and urine tests. "It is really a breakthrough for the world in combating against doping for EPO is cancer in the sports world. The COC resolutely supports the IOC's stand," He said. He said that dropping the athletes who had "suspicious results of blood tests" out of the Olympic team will support the IOC's decision and the Sydney Olympics, which has been expected to become a "clean" Games. Ma Junren and six of his runners were among the athletes who were dropped from the Chinese Olympic team. "There are multiple reasons for Ma and his runners' disqualification," He said. "Some of them are dropped due to suspicious blood test results." "There's only one criteria for the COC in testing the athletes," He said. "Everyone is equal." "The COC will, as always, fight doping along with the IOC and all the other international sports organizations." |
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