China bans speedskater for positive drug test

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China’s General Administration of Sports announced on Saturday that speedskater Shi Xiaoxuan has been banned from the national team for two years due to a positive drug test, and has been removed from the squad for next month’s 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics.

The statement was posted on the official website of the administration, saying that Shi tested positive for the banned substance clenbuterol on Dec. 14, 2017, after she went out to eat, which is against the rules of the national team’s camp training.

Statement issued on official website of General Administration of Sports of China.

As per the penalty, Shi was dispelled from the national team, and is not allowed to re-enroll for two years.

The incident came only two days after the General Administration of Sports announced its punishment for Li Yanzhe, a teammate of Shi, also for a failed drug test.

According to Reuters, clenbuterol is a performance-enhancing substance sometimes found in weight-loss pills and is on the World Anti-Doping Agency banned list.

File photo of Shi Xiaoxuan participate in competition. /Xinhua Photo‍

The statement said the incident was a “warning alert” during such a crucial time “when the national team is preparing for the coming 2018 PyeongChang Olympics, and under the circumstance of the General Administration of Sports’ repeated anti-doping efforts.”

The statement urged all national teams and associations to learn from Shi’s incident, and enhance the anti-doping awareness of athletes, coaches and doctors, in order to guarantee the smoothness of the coming competition.