China will start a nationwide inspection on Thursday to tighten management of performance-enhancing drug suppliers and manufacturers ahead of the Olympics.

The inspection, conducted by the State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA) with seven other government departments, would specially focus on Olympic host cities and regions with a concentrated chemical industry.

Shao Mingli, SFDA head, said the inspection would evaluate the work of local departments on regulating doping production and trade over the past several months.

The inspection team will randomly check two or three chemical manufacturers and one or two drug companies in each province or municipality.

The team, composed of departments such as the ministries of public security, health and industry and information technology, State Customs, State Administration for Industry and Commerce, General Administration of Sport and Beijing Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games, will investigate the manufacture and sale of doping drugs, the handling of illegal cases and the progress in training doping inspectors.

The inspection will finish before July 6.

Since March, authorities had punished 23 companies for illegal drug trading, or selling sports performance enhancers that should not be available over the counter, and shut down 321 websites containing illegal drug trading information.

By May 31, drug watchdogs nationwide had investigated 2,739 drug companies and 298,800 retailers, resulting in penalties for 125 illegal cases and the revoking of 18 licenses.

(Xinhua News Agency June 26, 2008)