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Top swimmer Ouyang Kunpeng was banned for life for doping. (Image: China News Service)
Latest world viewpoints
Keeping it clean: updated
“Finding drug cheats is not an embarrassment to us. On the contrary, it says what a firm stance we take in the fight against doping,” Yuang Hong on CRI Nordic
“Chinese officials challenged claims by the United States that China had accounted for 99 percent of the illicit performance-enhancing drugs uncovered in the largest drug-enforcement action in U.S. history last year.” International Herald Tribune
The Olympic motto – Faster, Higher, Stronger – is meant to inspire athletes to improve their performance and give every competition their all. But in this age when athletic stardom equals earning multi-million dollars in product endorsement, is it any wonder that performance enhancing drugs have become part of international competitive sports? Will the Beijing Olympics realize its goal of holding clean and drug-free games in August?
Chinese authorities are conducting more frequent doping tests on its athletes. Eight athletes have tested positive, CRI Nordic reports. According to the New York Times, top athletes such as swimmer Ouyang Kunpeng and wrestler Luo Meng, both medal hopes for China, were banned for life as a result. China says that such moves show their determination to eradicate doping.
Xinhua says that pharmacies have been warned to be careful about selling doping agents over the counter. While inspectors, People's Daily said, have been going around the country checking on drug manufacturers and suppliers ahead of the Games. Those found making, selling or distributing performance-enhancing drugs have been punished, the International Herald Tribune, reports.
The International Olympic Committee has declared that anti-doping measures during the Beijing Games will be the most extensive yet, a Sports Illustrated report says. New measures which would allow athletes to be tested wherever they are during the Olympics could help ensure that the doping menace would be kept to a minimum this time around.
This World Viewpoints article was first published on July 4. Links have been updated to reflect new reports of doping at the Beijing Games.
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| China | Europe | North-America | From elsewhere |
|---|---|---|---|
| China has found eight positive cases ahead of Olympics CRI Nordic - 2nd July 2008 China played tough hand in cracking down on drug cheats with more frequent no-notice tests and severe punishments ahead of the Beijing Olympic Games in a bid to ensure a clean team. China's drug regulator reiterates rule on doping agents Xinhua - 30th June 2008 China's top drug regulator reiterated a call against doping, posting a web notice requiring pharmacies to abide strictly by an earlier provision on sales of doping agents. China carries out nationwide inspection on doping ahead of Olympics People's Daily - 26th June 2008 China will start a nationwide inspection on Thursday to tighten management of performance-enhancing drug suppliers and manufacturers ahead of the Olympics. Chinese swimmer gets lifelong ban for doping China Daily - 28th June 2008 China's top swimmer, Ouyang Kunpeng, has been banned from competition for life after testing positive for steroids, a top Chinese swimming official said on Friday with only 43 days to go before the Beijing Olympics. Doping Remains Chronical Problem at Games CRI Nordic - 12th August 2008 The on-going Beijing Olympic Games already saw the 85th doping case in summer Olympics' history with more scandals expected under the toughest cracking down on drug cheats in any Olympics. Rogge Expects 30 to 40 Positive Doping Tests CRI Nordic - 7th August 2008 International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge predicted on Thursday that there would be 30 to 40 positive drug tests at the Beijing Olympics and said he would be happy if the number were fewer than that. New dope test method aids Beijing in hosting clean Olympics Xinhua - 1st August 2008 A new Olympic doping test method, along with other stringent anti-doping measures, will help Beijing host a clean Olympics, according to a Chinese anti-doping officials. |
As Olympics near, China punishes 128 firms over drugs International Herald Tribune, France - 19th June 2008 Trying to show that they are determined to host a clean Olympic Games, the Chinese authorities have revoked licenses for three drug makers and punished 125 other companies for making, selling or distributing performance-enhancing drugs. Traditional Chinese medicine could be a remedy for failure at Olympics Times - 1st July 2008 Chinese Olympic officials have advised national athletes not to take traditional remedies because some contain banned substances such as herbal ephedrine, a stimulant. IOC: Beijing Games to have more extensive doping tests Radio86 - 3rd July 2008 The International Olympic Committee said on Wednesday that efforts to ensure a clean and drug-free Olympics are more extensive than ever. The fight against doping; More than tactical success International Herald Tribune, France - 3rd August 2008 There were 24 positive doping cases at the Olympic Games in Athens in 2004. What has changed since then? Will the Beijing Games be different? Beijing plans testing on military scale but cheats will still prosper Guardian UK - 1st August 2008 In keeping with the grand scale of China's Olympic project, the Beijing Games will see the largest anti-doping operation ever mounted at a sporting event. Two more Olympic athletes test positive for doping Radio86 - 15th August 2008 North Korean shooter Kim Jong Su and Vietnamese gymnast Do Thi Ngan Thuong were kicked out of the Beijing Olympics on Friday after testing positive for banned substances. JO-2008: la Chine affiche sa détermination à lutter contre le dopage la-Croix.com - 2nd July 2008 Touchée ces dernières années par de nombreux scandales de dopage, la Chine ne cesse d'afficher sa détermination à lutter contre les substances prohibées à l'approche de ses premiers jeux Olympiques. Kinesere i chok: OL-håb dopet Ekstrabladet - 4th July 2008 Svømmeren Ouyang Kunpeng er blevet udelukket på grund af doping. |
Steroids from China intercepted UPI - 27th June 2008 Customs agents in Sydney, Australia, have intercepted an 88-pound shipment of steroids from China, a report said Friday. IOC: Beijing fight to stop doping cheats will be best-ever Sports Illustrated - 2nd July 2008 The International Olympic Committee says its fight to stop doping cheats in Beijing will be the best seen at a sports event. Another Chinese Athlete Is Barred for Life After Drug Test New York Times - 3rd July 2008 For the second time in less than a week, Chinese authorities announced that one of their Olympic athletes had tested positive for a banned substance and was subsequently barred from his sport for life. Trying to Avoid the Negative of a Positive Test New York Times - 4th August 2008 The International Olympic Committee has been in charge of the testing since July 27, and will be through the end of the Games, but officials here have gone out of their way to weed out cheats before they compete for China. Trying to stay ahead in the doping game Los Angeles - 1st August 2008 With the Beijing Games beginning soon, the battle lines are again being drawn between the dopers and the testers. |
Chinese wrestler Luo gets life ban for doping – report Reuters India - 2nd July 2008 Wrestler Luo Meng has become the second Chinese Olympic hopeful to be banned for life after testing positive for a banned substance, state media reported on Wednesday. China's drug precautions should be lauded Bangkok Post - 29th June 2008 Well done China. Banning one of the best backstroke swimmers in the world, Ouyang Kunpeng, for life is a magnificent effort to wipe out the curse of drugs, which has discredited and made the world suspicious of athletes. Lure of gold leaves Olympics prone to doping cheats NDTV, India - 31st August 2008 The Beijing Olympics will see the biggest anti-doping effort in history but the omens for a drug-free Games are not good. Spanish cyclist first to fail drugs test The Star, Malaysia - 12th August 2008 Spanish cyclist Maria Isabel Moreno has become the first competitor at the Beijing Olympics to fail a drugs test, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said yesterday. |
