Athlete doping goes up in 2009

SEOUL, Jan. 17 (Yonhap) -- The highest number of South Korean athletes tested
positive for doping in 2009 since the establishment of the country's anti-doping
body, its officials said Sunday.
The Korea Anti-Doping Agency (KADA) said that out of 3,300 doping tests conducted
at the request of the International Federation, 17 Korean athletes were caught
taking prohibited drugs last year.
Body builders accounted for the highest portion, with 11 athletes, including a
national competition winner, it said.
The KADA was set up in 2007 to oversee drug tests according to international
standards. There were six violaters in 2007 and 13 in 2008, it noted.
"The surge does not seems to result from more number of athletes taking
prohibited drugs, but changes to the test techniques, like occasional random
tests, may have affected the results," an official at KADA said.
ejkim@yna.co.kr
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