Chinese athletes for the Asian Games received nearly 2,000 doping tests by the China Anti-Doping Agency to ensure a clean journey to the continental games here.

A total of 1950 tests, including 120 blood tests, have been conducted since August.

Every single one of the Chinese athletes had at least one doping test before they were allowed into the 1000-strong delegation for the Games, slated for Nov. 12 through to 27 in Chinese southern city of Guangzhou.

"We hope that China will keep a clean record. We have been working hard to send a clean team to the Asian Games and ensure there is no positive case in our delegation," said Jiang Zhixue, anti-doping chief in China's State General Administration of Sport, the governmental sport governing body.

Jiang said a large number of doping tests served as the deterrent measure while anti-doping education is preventive in the fight against drug cheat as the Chinese delegation again adopted the anti-doping education admission system like they did in the National Games last year.

All the athletes were requested to read anti-doping materials before they submitted reading reports. They also had to sign a letter of commitment, pledging to abide by the anti-doping rules.

"We refined the system that initiated in last year's National Games," said Jiang. "No athlete is allowed into the team before they finish the required anti-doping education, no matter how great their sport achievements are."

Jiang said the education system will be carried on and extend to provincial and amateur athletes.

"Doping tests are a deterrent measure while education can be preventive. Besides, it is not possbile for a country to test all the athletes, both professional and amateur. That's where the education comes in," said Jiang.

(Xinhua News Agency November 11, 2010)