The China Anti-Doping Agency (CADA), which will be responsible for drug testing at this summer's Olympics, was awarded national accreditation on Friday.

The CADA, which has a world-class testing laboratory, was founded in November in Beijing. But to be eligible to handle the testing for the Games, the World Anti-doping Agency required the agency to gain national accreditation.

After careful assessment, the China National Accreditation Service for Conformity Assessment awarded the agency its Laboratory Accreditation Certificate, just three days before International Accreditation Day. It recognizes the agency has reached the national standard and is qualified for testing work.

During the Beijing Olympics, the laboratory will carry out about 4,500 dope tests.

Du Lijun, director of CADA, said the number of doping tests will reach a record high at the Beijing Games, and some testing measures will be used for the first time, including a test for human growth hormone and blood transfusions.

"The preparations for these new testing methods are progressing well," Du said.

"We are confident the lab will perform its job well at the Beijing Olympic Games."

Wu Moutian, vice-director of CADA, said all staff and equipment have been moved to the new lab building, and the agency has 60 staff carrying out dope tests daily.

The number will be increased to 150 during the Olympics, with 20 foreign experts joining the team, he said.

Also on Friday, the State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA) said it will continue to crack down on companies that sell banned drugs to ensure a clean Olympics.

As reported by the Xinhua News Agency, Yan Jiangying, a spokesperson for the SFDA, said on Friday that nine drug retailers in Anshan, Liaoning province, have had their drugs licenses revoked for selling banned substances.

The revocations followed investigations by SFDA officials in Beijing, other Olympic co-host cities and Shenzhen, Guangdong province, Yan was quoted by Xinhua as saying.

A number of manufacturers and retailers also signed responsibility contracts to prevent the supply of banned substances, she said.

(China Daily June 7, 2008)