Drug test result rocks China football ( 2003-12-18 08:59) (China Daily by Chen Xiangfeng)
A decade's worth of good memories built by the
Chinese First Division Football League went down the toilet Tuesday night with
news of the first positive dope test in the history of China football.
The China Football Association (CFA) announced the 'A' sample urine test of
Zhang Shuai, a player with Beijing Hyundai, revealed traces of the banned
substance ephedrine.
The sample was taken November 22 after a match between Beijing and eventual
league champion Shanghai Shenhua.
If his 'B' sample test returns the same result, Zhang, a promising prospect
for China's Olympic team, risks a ban of two to four years that would deal a
hammer blow to his career.
Results from the 'B' sample test are expected to be released next week.
But Zhang proclaimed his innocence, insisting he ingested the substance
accidentally in medicine to ward off a cold.
"I have never taken such kind of drug," Zhang said in a detailed statement to
the CFA.
"Before the match against Shenhua I caught a bit of cold. Considering the
fact that the team was in a tough situation at that time,I did not tell the team
doctor and took some pills by myself.
"I feel extremely repentant now. I should have asked the doctor before taking
the pills. But I never thought of the result after I took the drug test.
"I hope they will give me a chance and forgive the mistake I have done. I
want to continue my football career."
Ephedrine gained notoriety when Argentina football giant Diego Maradona
tested positive for the substance at the 1994 World Cup. It is a common additive
to weight-loss pills and cold remedies.
Zhang's club is supporting the player's explanation, and has filed an appeal
with the National Drug Test Centre.
"We have confirmed that Zhang mistakenly took the pills. But a professional
player should have never made such a mistake," said Yang Zuwu, chief manager of
Beijing Hyundai.
Yang also admitted the club should bear some responsibility.
"Our poor management in ways of players' food and medicine leads to such an
accident. If Zhang is finally banned, the club should also take the punishment,"
Yang added.
According to CFA rules, if a player tests positive for drugs, the team he
plays for will be ruled as a 0-3 loss. Meanwhile three more points will be
deducted.
If the club is fined, Beijing's 2-1 win over Shanghai will be changed to 0-3
loss, which means Beijing will have six points deduced.
But Lang Xiaonong, director of CFA's league department, made it clear the
situation will not affect the rankings for next year, when the Chinese First
Division is replaced by the China Super League - the equivalent of England's
Premier League.
"I have counted the points, and whether lose or win, the ranking will not be
changed," said Lang.
He also reiterated that any player who tests positive will be banned from two
to four years and fined from 5,000 yuan (US$600) to 10,000 yuan (US$1,200) while
the coach will be banned one year and chief manager, team doctors and head
coach are fined 10,000 yuan (US$1,200) apiece.
Things could become complicated because Beijing Hyundai played without a head
coach in the latter part of the season. The position was replaced by a coaching
group.
"The CFA makes the final decision. If they label me as the head coach, I have
nothing to say,"said Yang Zuwu, leader of the coaching group.
Zhang's test result also sparked speculation and heated debate among fans.
"I do not think Zhang took the drug deliberately. I also hope everything will
be OK for him." said Lu Bin, a strong supporter of Beijing Hyundai.
But the opposites also raised sharp views.
"I don't know if he did or not. Chinese football has been involved in a bunch
of problems in the past 10 years. I won't be surprised if Zhang really took the
drug," said Tan Xiao, a football enthusiast from Tsinghua University.
"This is ridiculous. Look at their poor performances. I don't think they can
beat Japan or South Korea if they really take drugs," said another fan, He
Xiang.
Anti-doping has been at the forefront of the international sports scene
recently after a series of incidents involving tetrahydrogestrinone
(THG), a new substance identified after an anonymous coach sent the US
Anti-Doping Agency a syringe containing the drug.
It was later linked to a number of big sports names and rocked track and
field in Europe and North America.
The China Football Association (CFA) announced the 'A' sample urine test of
Zhang Shuai, a player with Beijing Hyundai, revealed traces of the banned
substance ephedrine.
