Coronavirus: China stops anti-doping controls

Lausanne (SID) Because of the continued spread of the coronavirus, China's anti-doping agency CHINADA decided six months before the Summer Olympics in Tokyo to suspend its doping controls until further notice "for reasons of health protection." The International Control Agency ITA, based in Lausanne, informed about this decision. “It is a precautionary measure so as not to endanger athletes and controllers,” said the ITA. Of course, the importance of the controls is fundamentally recognized, "but the priority is to preserve public health for everyone." According to ITA, controls by CHINADA will be resumed “as soon as the situation improves.” Meanwhile, in the Olympic host country Japan, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe tried to calm tempers. Despite around 360 deaths in China from the virus and also cases of infection in Nippon, the head of government assured that the epidemic would not affect the Olympic Games (July 24th to August 9th) and the following Paralympics (August 25th to September 6th). will affect. "Through our coordination with the World Health Organization (WHO) and other authorities, we will take the necessary measures to ensure that preparations can continue as planned," Abe said in a speech to the Japanese parliament. Japanese sports representatives and Olympic officials will meet later this week to discuss the impact of the epidemic and Tokyo's initiatives to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. The Japanese government has meanwhile chartered three aircraft to fly 565 citizens from the Chinese province of Wuhan, which has been particularly hard hit by the virus. At the same time, the Japanese population was advised against non-essential travel to China. The spread of the coronavirus has already led to numerous cancellations of sporting events in China. Cases of infection are now known in 24 countries, including Germany. Alfons Hörmann, President of the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB), recently described the virus as “the biggest risk” on the way to the Olympic Games in Tokyo.

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Coronavirus: China stops anti-doping controls