Doping at the Paralympics

I must not have a very good understanding of what the Special Olympics Paralympics are all about.

From China's Xinhua News Agency:

BEIJING, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- China's drug watchdog planned to keep close watch on the production and sale of performance-enhancing drugs during the upcoming Beijing Paralympics, as was the case during the recent Olympic Games.

State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA) inspectors were conducting checks on pharmaceutical companies and retailers in the Chinese capital and Qingdao, a Paralympic co-host city in the eastern Shandong Province, SFDA spokeswoman Yan Jiangying said here on Wednesday.

The inspections between Tuesday and Thursday aimed to ensure no violation of the country's anti-doping regulation before and during the Paralympics, scheduled for Sept. 6 to 17, Yan told a press conference.

The rule, which took effect in March 2004, set stringent requirements for the supervision and management of performance-enhancing drug producers, including market entry, export approval and warning labels for athletes.

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This news surprised me.

It really shouldn't have I suppose. It is clear that any athletes at any level will abuse performance enhancing drugs. Even at the Paralympics!