BEIJING, June 28: Chinese officials say a life-time ban on top swimmer Ouyang Kunpeng for a doping offence demonstrates the country’s determination to present a clean Beijing Olympics in August.

China’s top backstroker tested positive for the anabolic agent clenbuterol last month, dealing the country an embarrassing setback before the Aug. 8-24 Games.

“Ouyang’s ban proves nothing but our determination to weed out dope cheats among Chinese athletes,” Yuan Hong, head of the Chinese Olympic Committee’s anti-doping commission, told the Xinhua news agency.

“No matter how excellent an athlete is, he or she will be severely punished if they test positive. We will continue our zero-tolerance policy in the fight against doping in order to send a clean team to the Olympic Games.” Chinese officials announced Ouyang’s ban on Friday.

First-time offenders usually receive a two-year ban but Ouyang’s tough sentence sent a clear warning to other would-be Chinese offenders.

Chinese swimmers were embroiled in a series of doping scandals in the 1990s and the country’s sporting authorities have pledged to crack down on drug cheats before the Beijing Games.

Ouyang is the biggest-name Chinese swimmer to fail a dope test for several years.

Last year, China conducted 10,238 tests, in and out of competition, and uncovered 15 positive samples, seven of them from weightlifters.—Reuters