Beijing, Aug 17 (IANS) China’s Anti-Doping Agency (CHINADA) is well prepared for the anti-doping programme at the upcoming athletics World Championships to be held here from August 22 to 30.
All urine and blood samples collected at the World Championships will be analysed in a lab here as CHINADA will send a team of around 200 to carry out the tests. Educational outreach programmes will be organised up in the three hotels where athletes and coaches will stay, reports Xinhua.
“We are ready after nearly two years of preparation,” said Zhao Jian, deputy director of CHINADA.
International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) is yet to release its anti-doping plan for the Worlds as it is busy handling the allegations of widespread doping that has seriously damaged the sport.
In the 2013 Moscow Worlds, 670 urine and 1,919 blood tests were conducted before seven athletes tested positive.
According to IAAF, the Beijing meet could potentially be the biggest World Championships in the 15 editions of the event with 1,936 athletes (1,043 men and 893 women) from 207 countries and regions entering.
“Although the number of athletes that will finally participate in Beijing will be slightly less, as is normal, this figure still compares favourably with the current highest total of 1,895 who competed at the 2009 championships in Berlin,” IAAF published on its website.