China plans to carry out a record 4,500 doping tests during the 2008 Beijing Olympics, an increase of 1,000 from the Athens Games.

The doping plans were announced Tuesday at a drug testing laboratory in Beijing. Australian Olympic Committee president John Coates, former International Olympic Committee vice president Kevan Gosper and Olympic swim champion Grant Hackett visited the lab.

"China has made great progress in the fight against drugs in sport and they are demonstrating to the world their commitment by doing more tests than anyone else" Coates said in a statement released by the AOC.

About 3,000 doping tests were done at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and about 3,500 at the Athens Games. A record 24 doping cases were reported by the IOC during the Athens Games. Seven medals, including three golds, were revoked.

Coates said officials at the China Doping Control Center had assured his delegation that drug testers would work "round the clock" during the Beijing Olympics.

Coates and Hackett were in Beijing to sign an agreement with the Chinese Olympic Committee. Under the deal that was signed Monday, Australian athletes will train and compete in China over the next three years in national, international and Olympic test events. Australian coaches, judges, officials and scientists will attend seminars and exchange ideas, the AOC said.

(China Daily via agencies November 3, 2004)