Chinese swimming team speaks out on drugs controversy

The Chinese swimming team said in a statement on Friday that it would withdraw a swimmer and coach from the world championships in Australia after customs officials there found suspected drugs in the team's luggage, Xinhua news agency reported from the Australian city of Perth.

"On January 8, 1998, part of the Chinese swimming team had a stopover in Sydney on their way to Perth for the Eighth World Swimming Championships.

In a routine baggage check at the Sydney Airport, one of the swimmers Yuan Yuan was believed to have in her baggage suspicious substance banned by the Sydney Customs," the statement said, according to the agency.

"Upon arrival of the above-mentioned group of people in Perth, the Chinese swimming delegation asked the people concerned what had happened." "According to swimming coach Zhou Zhewen, before they came here someone asked him to take the substance over here.

At Sydney customs, the customs officials inquired these two people and Mr Zhou made an explanation.

As this is their individual behaviour they will be responsible for all the consequences." "The Chinese swimming delegation considers that carrying things for other people on the way to the World Swimming Championships violates the delegation's disciplines and was definitely wrong," the statement said.

"Once the Australian customs officially confirms that it is a banned drug, the Chinese swimming delegation shall deprive these two people of the right to participate in the current world championships.

Further action will then be taken in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Chinese Swimming Association and FINA will be duly informed of the result." "The Chinese Swimming Association has always been fighting against any doping practice and has insisted on the "Three Rule" Anti-doping Policy, namely, strict prohibition, strict examination and strict sanction.

However, we are strongly oppose individual behaviour being regarded as a collective action," the statement said.

"Holding high the banner of the fighting against drugs, the Chinese Swimming Association is willing to co-operate with other sports federations and make unremitting efforts to ensure the successful fight against doping and safeguard the purity of the Olympic movement," the agency quoted statement as saying.

BBC Monitoring (http://www.monitor.bbc.co.uk), based in Caversham in southern England, selects and translates information from radio, television, press, news agencies and the Internet from 150 countries in more than 70 languages.