A HISTORIC high number of doping tests were conducted at China’s 14th National Games with a number of new measures in doping control at the quadrennial multisport tournament, China Anti-Doping Agency (CHINADA) head Chen Zhiyu said Monday. “We expect to finish a total of 3,342 doping tests after the Games end,” said Chen on the closing day of the sports gala. CHINADA has planned to conduct 3,295 doping tests, including 15 for horses, a 12 percent increase from the number at the last National Games in Tianjin. “As there were more records broken in the preliminary rounds than expected, the eventual number of tests will be larger than originally planned,” he explained. Chen said dry blood spots and tests to detect blood transfusions were used for the first time at the Games. CHINADA also launched the Independent Observer program at the National Games, inviting eight experts in areas such as sports, law, technology and doping control. Long Qingquan, the Beijing and Rio Olympic weightlifting champion, joined the program as an independent observer. “I was able to follow the whole doping control process closely and now have new insights into the fight against doping,” he said. “As an athlete, I needed to play clean. Now retired, I will keep working hard to support clean sport,” he said.(Xinhua) | 