Four test positive at provincial games in China

BEIJING, Sep 6 (Reuters) Four gold medallists at China's Henan provincial games have tested positive for banned substances and face being stripped of their medals.

The four athletes, who were not named, won wrestling and weightlifting events at the games in the central Chinese province, Xinhua news agency reported.

''They face being stripped of their medals, fined or even banned, no matter whether it was deliberate or unintentional,'' provincial sports bureau chief Han Shiying told a news conference.

More than 270 athletes, mostly medallists, were tested during the first half of the games, which closed on August 29.

The games will resume in Henan's capital Zhengzhou from September 20 to 28.

''We will intensify the tests for the rest of the games.'' said Han.

China says it is determined to crack down on the use of banned substances as it prepares to host the 2008 Olympics.

In August, anti-doping officials caught coaches at an athletics school in northeast Liaoning systematically doping teenagers with steroids, testosterone and erythropoietin (EPO) ahead of their provincial games.

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