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China Declares Zero Tolerance Policy on Drugs During 2016 Olympics

| Jul 22, 2016 10:20 PM EDT

Rio 2016 Olympic Games: Copacabana gets Olympic Rings made of recycled plastic.

Vice Governor of the General Administration of Sports Gao Zhidian said that they have a zero-tolerance stance on doping for the 2016 Olympics.

The Sports Administration required athletes and coaches bound for Rio de Janeiro to sign pledges that they will not cheat. If caught, they will be severely punished.

Those selected to join the Chinese delegation are required to take a drug test. Those who have a grade of 80 percent and above will be allowed to join.

The delegation is composed of 711 members and 411 individuals of this group are athletes. Gao is the deputy head of the mission.

"China has been firmly against doping and has a zero-tolerance approach to this particular problem," Gao said. "We have made it very clear that we want to ensure fair play and the well-being of athletes."

China has been diligent with screening in long distance swimming and running. In 2014, swimmer Sun Yang was exposed for being suspended for drug use.

There were incidents of doping in the 1990s. A scandal broke out which involved several Chinese athletes.

After the suspension, Sun came back with more vigor. He was named male swimmer of the meet in the world championships in Russia.

China won 38 medals and garnered the most number of victories during the 2008 Olympics in London.

The host of Olympics 2016 is Rio de Janeiro. This is the first time that the Olympics will be held in Latin America and in a Spanish-speaking country.

There are expressed concerns over the spreading Zika virus and the issue of pollution in Guanabara Bay. Many speculate that Rio 2016 will be affected by the political instability in the country.

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