Chinese short-track speed skater Yang Yang has been appointed a member of the Athlete Committee of the World Anti-Doping Agency, or WADA.

The aim of this 13-member working committee is put the WADA in closer contact with athletes and to give the agency better insight into their questions and concerns regarding doping.

Yang Yang, who won the first short-track speed skating Olympic gold for China, is also a member of the Athletes Committee of the International Skating Union, the Chinese Olympic Committee and the IOC Athletes Commission.

Russian ice hockey world champion Viacheslav Fetisov has been appointed to chair the committee.

The WADA's Athlete Committee will soon hold its first meeting in Montreal. 

(CRI March 31, 2005)