Beijing, July 28: The top organiser for the Sydney Olympics praised China's efforts to clamp down on doping that has marred the nation's record-breaking performances and could jeopardise its bid for the 2008 games.During his last stop abroad before the games begin on September 15, Michael Knight, president of the Sydney organisers, told reporters that he was `impressed' with China's anti-doping efforts at the National level. But he acknowledged that completely ending the practice could be impossible, especially at lower levels of competition.``No nation, including Australia, is free from athletes and coaches who have the temptation to use banned performance enhancing substances,'' Knight said.In the 1990s, China had the worst doping record in the World, and its athletes will likely be scrutinised more than any other nation's in Sydney. Dozens of Chinese athletes, swimmers mostly, have tested positive for steroids, stimulants, or diuretics meant to mask the banned drugs during testing.China has begun intensive drug testing and has imposed penalties harsher than those required by World swimming rules. First-time steroid offenders can face up to a life time ban, compared with a four-year ban set by FINA, the governing body of World swimming.China has already dropped swimming star Wu Yanyan from its Olympics team because she allegedly tested positive for steroids in May. Wu, World champion in the women's 200-meter individual medley, has said she's clean and plans to challenge the decision.Beijing is competing to hold the 2008 Olympics, though its bid could be endangered if Chinese athletes fail doping tests in Sydney.Knight said he has visited 20 countries in the past five years, urging all the World's nations to participate at Sydney.
