February 22, 2008	Friday	Safar 14, 1429

BEIJING, Feb 21: China expressed regret on Thursday at reports that the US Olympic team would bring its own meat for the Beijing Games over concerns of drugs tainted food, and said it could guarantee safe supplies.

The New York Times has reported that the US Olympic Committee has arranged with sponsors to ship 25,000 pounds of lean protein to Beijing for the Games, in response to concerns about the potential impact of veterinary drugs and insecticides on athletes.

“I personally feel rather regretful,” Kang Yi, head of the Catering Division at the Beijing Organising Committee for the Olympic Games, told a news conference.

Chinese organisers have made efforts to ensure that athletes could dine together, but “if the US delegation is not at these gatherings, I think that’s a pity,” Kang said.

Beijing had received no formal notification from the US team regarding its plans, she added.China has been at pains to reassure on food safety ahead of the Games, after a series of health scares drew attention to lax oversight and a willingness among manufacturers to flout standards with a view to maximising profits.

Meat supplies in particular have come under scrutiny over fears that antibiotics and growth stimulants commonly used by breeders to boost yields could cause positive doping tests.

Officials said there was no evidence that that was the case.

“At present, globally, there have been no scientific reports that show drug tests will yield positive results after athletes or people eat certain types of meat,” said Lu Yong, director of the Beijing Municipal Food Safety Monitoring Centre.

“China has very strict rules. Forbidden drugs cannot be used in breeding, so we can guarantee safety,” he said.—Reuters