Sports: China ‘shocked’ at sport doping claims

A top World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) official alleged that China produces ‘99 per cent of illegal substances'.

BEIJING: The head of China’s anti-doping efforts said he was ‘shocked’ yesterday after a top World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) official alleged that the country produces ‘99 per cent of illegal substances’, but vowed to investigate.

“We are wondering where this 99 per cent came from and what is his evidence,” said China’s anti-doping chief Jiang Zhixue, in response to remarks made by Wada director-general David Howman. “We have asked for a more detailed explanation from Wada.”

Jiang said an investigation would be carried out similar to action ahead of the 2008 Beijing Olympics that saw a number of drugs ‘workshops’ being shut down and stricter controls on drugs sales.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 20^th, 2013.