China claims Wang clear in dope tests

TRACK world record holder Wang Junxia has passed more than 10 dope tests in the last 12 months, a Chinese sports official has said.

"Since July 1st last year until now we have administered dope tests more than 10 times . . . on Wang Junxia . . . excluding tests administered by the International Amateur Athletic Federation," Yang Tianle, director of the national research institute of sports medicine, said in an interview.

Wang, the women's 10,000 metres world record holder, is the only former member of the once formidable "Ma Family Army" of women long distance runners to have qualified for next month's Atlanta Olympics.

Yang's institute runs the doping control centre of China, which has increasing out of competition testing in the last 12 months.

The centre had this year administered 657 out of competition tests by June 18th, up 142 percent compared with the same 1995 period, Yang said.

It carried out 2,100 dope tests in 1995, with 13 athletes testing positive, compared with 1,418 tests and 14 testing positive in 1994, he said.

Atlanta won mixed reviews yesterday after 10 days of competition at the stadium which will host the ceremonies and the athletics events of next month's Olympic Games.

The US track and field trials gave organisers, officials and volunteers a final shake down.

The verdict was inconclusive, showing that the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games (ACOG) has the potential for success in its grasp, but must still do a lot to iron out the kinks in its operation.