The International Olympic Committee (IOC) said Wednesday that the anti-doping effort at the Beijing Summer Games will be more extensive than ever.
More than 4,500 tests will be administered, 25 percent more than those conducted in the 2004 Games in Athens and 90 percent more than the number of tests in Sydney in 2000, the sports body said in a statement.
"At the International Olympic Committee, we are at the forefront of the effort to eradicate doping," said IOC president Jacques Rogge.
"Most athletes compete honestly and fairly," said Rogge. "They treasure the Olympic experience. We owe it to these athletes - who train so hard - to ensure the Games are as free of prohibited drugs as possible."
During the period of July 27 through Aug. 28, the IOC, in cooperation with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and Beijing Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games (BOCOG), will test the competitors at any time and at any place.
In a change of policy, athletes will be tested whether they are at an Olympic venue, the Olympic Village or a far-away training facility.
All controls will be coordinated under the IOC, while WADA will conduct pre-competition controls during the Olympic period on Olympic athletes not in Olympic venues and BOCOG will conduct controls at the Olympic venues.
In a briefing with journalists, chairman of the IOC Medical Commission, Arne Ljungqvist, said the ability to detect doping is improving.
"While it is to our advantage to not release all the details, enhanced testing will be administered in Beijing," said professor Ljungqvist. "You can expect continued efforts to detect human growth hormone (HGH) and EPO."
(Xinhua News Agency July 3, 2008)