Anti-doping tests will be introduced at all
national junior sports events from next year in an effort to curb
increasing use of banned substances among young people, a senior
official told a national conference in Hefei, Anhui
Province yesterday.
Wang Baoliang, from the Chinese General
Administration of Sport, said doping cases are now found not only
among professional juniors but also amateurs, and throughout
athletics, bodybuilding and team events.
"More and more school students use drugs in order
to score points in the college entrance examinations," he said,
referring to the physical element of exams that all college
hopefuls have to take unless exempted for medical reasons.
"It is a very dangerous tendency and we must take
the issue seriously," he added.
A Beijing Sport University survey of 4,500 middle
school and college students in 14 cities found a percentage of
positive cases higher than that among professional athletes.
"Whoever uses banned drugs will receive due
punishment," said Wang, "But we will put more emphasis on letting
young students know the harm of taking drugs."
He also announced that the World Anti-Doping Agency
would send an inspection team headed by its chief Dick Pound to the
10th National Games of China, due to be held in the eastern
province of Jiangsu
in October.
"The 10th National Games will see the largest
number of dope tests ever," said Wang, and human growth hormone
will be tested for for the first time. A total of 1,325 tests were
carried out during the 9th Games.
(Xinhua News Agency July 14, 2005)