250 doping tests planned for Harbin Winter Universiade

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(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-02-18 18:34

YABULI -- About 250 doping tests are going to be carried out at the Harbin Winter Universiade for those medallists and long-distance competitors in random, says Roger Roth, the president of FISU technical committee here on Tuesday.

"About 250 doping tests will be conducted, but it's not for sure yet, including the medallists and some test in random from long-distance competitors," said Roth.

"The samples will be transformed to Beijing center for WADA reservation."

To the preparation of the Harbin Winter Universiade, Roth gave positive comments in general, but also pointed out small problems still hanging there.

"In general, everything is on the way and the Universiade is ready for opening, but small problems exist," said Roth.

"I would not talk specifically. It's like every time in each competition to run, in the last 48 hours, you can always find problems. Nothing exceptional, very normal.

"The competition venues are ready for the athletes and everything is ready for the media."

Roth acknowleged it's a much harder work for Harbin Universiade compared with the Turin Universiade in 2007.

"In the Turin Universiade, they had everything ready. They had Olympic staff and Olympic venues for the Turin Winter Olympics just finished in 2006. The facilities here have to be meet the criteria of various international sports unit from nothing. The staff have to start from nothing," said Roth.

"For Harbin Universiade, it's special for everyone here, very exciting and the hospitality here let everyone grateful. It's something very special for the 24th Universiade," added Roth.

According to Roth, the cold temperature in Yabuli ski resort will not be a problem for competition at all.

"According to the FISU rules, if the temperature is under 20 degree celsius, some desciplines like the cross-country and downhill ski are not allowed to race for freezing and for safety consideration," said Roth.

"Yabuli is a cold region for the moment. It's cold, but Yabuli will be ok. In most of the cases it's about 15 degree centigrade under these days, so it won't be a problem as the technical test shows."

Harbin is eyeing to bid for the 2018 and 2022 Winter Olympics. In order to have a successful bid for the Winter Olympics, Roth suggested Harbin to show the capability to host the Winter Olympics.

"Harbin has to show the best in organizing and know-how and good venues. It's a long way to go at the moment."