BEIJING, Sept 27: The head of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) on Thursday praised China’s assistance in massive US raids on illegal labs that recovered millions of doses of steroids, much of it originating in China.

Dick Pound also issued ringing endorsements of new Chinese anti-doping measures and said the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics were on track to be the most doping free in the event’s recent history.

“All in all, when you look around the world and see what other countries are doing, I think it’s now safe to say that China is in the vanguard of this,” Pound told in the Chinese capital.

The US Federal authorities on Monday announced the largest crackdown on illegal steroids in the nation’s history, arresting more than 120 people, seizing 11.4 million steroid doses, and raiding dozens of labs that manufactured growth hormone for sale on the black market.

The US investigators were helped by governments of nine other countries, including China. Among those facing charges are a Chinese manufacturer accused of smuggling human growth hormone into the US and others who allegedly got steroids from China and sold them to US customers. In all, investigators seized more than 500 pounds of raw steroid ingredients that originated in China.

In a sign of its new commitment to fight doping globally, Pound said China had responded swiftly to requests from the US Drug Enforcement Agency and other organisations for help preparing the raids. He said China had agreed to share information uncovered in its own investigations with foreign law enforcement bodies.

“They take it seriously, they are in active cooperation with the various international agencies that are involved,” Pound said. “It’s pretty early in the process to know exactly what all the information may be, but I think they are equally committed to doing something whatever is appropriate if they find there are illegal activities here in China,” he said.

Asked if he thought next year’s Games would be the cleanest yet, Pound answered: “I think they might be, partially because of what is being done here, partially also as a result of the Athens Games, where at least as far as the Olympic movement is concerned, there was a real line drawn in the sand.”

“Improved detection technology and a zero-tolerance policy towards doping or irregular behaviour of any kind will deter cheats who know they are going to be caught and disgraced,” Pound said. “All that, I hope will combine to produce what I hope will be the cleanest Games ever.”

Pounds comments underscored the huge efforts undertaken by the central government to shake a reputation for doping among Chinese athletes dating from the doping scandals of the mid-1990s when several dozen swimmers and other athletes were banned for using performance enhancing drugs.

Pound said Chinese officials had pledged that all the nation’s athletes would be drug-free for the Olympics, and that there will be no Chinese athlete on any team that hasn’t been tested. —AP