Samaranch Gives China Clean Bill of Health
1998-12-08

IOC chief Juan Antonio Samaranch commented yesterday at the Asian Games in Bangkok, Thailand, that China was an example to the world rest of the world of how to fight against drug cheats.

Samaranch had made a similar comment about China being drug free just before the last Asian Games in 1994 in Hiroshima, Japan where 11 Chinese athletes failed drug tests. Seven of the athletes at the time were swimmers.

Samaranch's statements come on the heels of statements that Beijing is expected to bid for the 2008 Games. Beijing's last bid for the 2000 Games was hampered by the drug scandal in Hiroshima.