Chinese sports not going back to dark past, says world anti-doping head

LONDON, July 25 (Xinhua) -- Occasional doping cases will not bring China back to the shadowy past when drug scandals once harmed the country's image, said the world anti-doping head here on Wednesday.

China was once accused of systematic doping after a number of infamous cases involving Chinese swimmers were disclosed in the 1994 Asian Games. There have been concerns that the recent positive case of world swimming champion Li Zhesi might put a dent on the country's reputation which has been salvaged following 20 years of efforts in cracking down on drug cheats.

World Anti-doping Agency (WADA) chief John Fahey, however, played down the possibility. He said before and after the Olympics Games in Beijing, he saw convincing evidence of the country's determination in fighting against doping.

"In the lead up to the Beijing and after Beijing, there were a number of international championships conducted in China. I found enormous efforts were made by China to adopt the Code and practice properly," he told Xinhua after a WADA news conference prior to the London Olympic Games.

"I have not suggested that China is going to revert to the sort of record they had a decade or so ago. I believe the commitment is still on and it's very good. "

Since suffering a heavy blow in 1994, China has stepped up the campaign in rooting out drug cheats with an increasing number of doping tests, continuous education, as well as tough punishments, usually involving a life ban for national team athletes if they violated the rules before or during the National Games or the Olympic Games.

China's anti-doping efforts have full support from the government. The country adopted the World Anti-Doping Code in 2003 before it had their own legislation in anti-doping a year later. The Chinese government ratified the International Convention against Doping in Sport in 2006, pledging a unified efforts from different government departments.

Fahey said he found that China had learnt a good lesson from the past and did really well now.

"I think China has recognized that there is a lot to be benefitted from succeeding in sport and a lot more to be benefitted from succeeding in sport when your athletes are clean and they are making a real effort," he said.

Rome world champion Li Zhesi tested positive for EPO this March in China's pre-Olympic anti-doping program that included about 3,000 tests on athletes who might compete in the London Games.