China athletes score low in doping

Despite a reputation for rampant corruption in other spheres, China is comparatively squeaky clean in the athletics world, state media reporting that only 0.4% of its athletes were charged with doping as against the international average of 1.6%. Only 17 Chinese athletes tested positive in 4,000 doping tests done by the Chinese sports authorities in 2004, according to the Chinese Anti-doping Committee, about the same rate as in 2003. Committee official Zhao Jian said the group carried out 4009 urine tests and 644 blood tests. Over half of last year's dopers were body builders and weightlifters.