Asian Games 2023: The OCA said doping testing was “gaining momentum” at the event.© AFP
Between 150 and 200 athletes from the Asian Games have already been tested for doping, the Olympic Council of Asia said on Monday, with no positive results so far. At an anti-doping press conference on the second full day of the Games in the Chinese city of Hangzhou, the OCA said doping testing was “gaining momentum” during the event. Mani Jegathesan, adviser to the OCA’s anti-doping committee, warned that drug cheating would be eradicated. (Asian Games Medals Tally | Full schedule – September 25)
So far, 200 athletes have been tested so far, he said, but it will take several days for positive results to emerge.
“Every athlete participating in these Games must understand that he can be singled out at any time,” Jegathesan warned. “That’s the best step to make sure we have a clean event.”
There are about 12,000 athletes at the 19th Asian Games, more participants than the Olympics, and Jegathesan admitted it would be impossible to test them all.
Instead, they will set priorities, including picking those who break world or Asian records.
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