(ATR) China is the first country to announce its contribution to a governments fund to match the IOC’s $10 million investment in anti-doping research.
Thomas Bach announced the IOC investment last December, which includes new techniques for the detection of prohibited substances and methods. He called on governments to match the amount, ultimately raising the fund to $20 million.
The World Anti-Doping Agency has since encouraged governments to pledge their own support by making commitments before Nov. 16 to the joint IOC / WADA initiative.
Liu Yandong, the vice premier of the State Council for China, has become the first national government leader to commit support by contributing $1 million to the cause.
"The Chinese government always attaches great importance to the development of sport and its instrumental role in society, and anti-doping plays a critical role in the healthy development of the Olympic Movement," she said. "The Chinese government is continuously committed to the fight against doping in sport, and the promotion of clean sport and upholding a 'zero tolerance' of doping."
In a statement Friday, WADA president Craig Reedie thanked the Chinese government and Liu Peng, the country’s sports minister and president of the Chinese Olympic Committee.
"This marks a significant step forward for the anti-doping community," he said.
"The IOC’s initial commitment to the research, and the signal sent by the Chinese government, provides an excellent example of how sport and government can work together for the greater anti-doping good and, importantly, to help give athletes the level playing field they so deserve," the IOC vice-president added.
"Over the coming weeks, as the IOC’s 16 November deadline approaches, I will continue to engage governments and encourage them to follow China’s lead so that we can keep sport clean for all athletes," he said.
Bach also welcomed China’s contribution to anti-doping research and urged other governments to follow suit. WADA announced later on Friday that Turkey has donated $250,000 as part of the global government initiative to fight doping in sport.
"Without clean athletes there can be no credible competition, and without credible competition sport will also cease to be attractive to spectators and fans and would ultimately wither and die," he said.
WADA said the U.S. was also funding innovative anti-doping research through the US Anti-Doping Agency and its partners . USADA has confirmed it intends to commit $6 million to research over the next three years. This commitment is being made by the Partnership for Clean Competition, which is spending $3 million on research in 2014 alone.
Reported by Mark Bisson.
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