Doha Games see strict doping control with more case possible

Seventh hundred and fifty doping tests have been conducted nine days after the opening of the Asiad as the number approached the total carried out in last Games, a doping-control official from the Doha organizing committee (DAGOC) said here on Sunday.

"We have undertaken 750 tests with 50 blood testing, only three cases were tested positive," said Dr. Abdulwahab Al Musleh, Healthcare, Medical and Doping Control manager at DAGOC.

In Busan Asian Games four years ago, a total of 760 tests were carried out.

"All athletes can be subject to a random test when they are at the village and also in competition," he said.

And official who asked not to be named revealed that there might be more coming out if confirmed.

So far three weightlifters have been found using banned drugs at the Games as two are from Uzbekistan, Elmira Ramileva in women' s 69kg category and Alexander Urinov in 105kg as well as Than Kyi Kyi of Myanmar in women's 48kg category.

"We adopt zero-tolerance attitude towards banned drugs and we did everything here in accordance to the OCA rules and WADA's Anti- Doping Code," said Wei Jizhong, chairman of the Sports Commission at the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA).

"Both OCA and WADA sent many staff here to supervise doping- control of the Games and the organizers did a good job," he said.

An anticipated 1,200 tests will be carried out in doping control stations at each competition venue and the Athletes' Village polyclinic in Doha and blood testing will be conducted for the first time at an Asian Games.

Testing will be administered by 30 international doping officers and 250 locally trained staff and the samples will be analyzed at King's College in London.

The OCA had around 20 doping-control staff here while the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), an independent international organization fighting against doping in sport, had over 40 staff in Doha.