The drugs issue will continue to dominate the Sydney Olympics as there is no escape from it.

There are two battles in international sport: the one between a competitor taking on a fellow competitor and the one between the cheats and drugs testers and it is fair to say the cheats are always one step ahead of the testers.

The Atlanta Games were called the HGH (Human Growth Hormone) Games because it was felt a high number of of athletes were using the hormone and escaping being detected as there was, and still is, no test for it.

The idea of a 'clean' games is an aspiration the IOC has, but it is in a bit of a double bind.

Accusation

If the games are completely free of positive tests they run the risk of being accused of not having strong enough testing procedures.

The IOC say the Chinese should be commended for the move but you could take a cynical view of the withdrawal.

They hope to stage the Olympics in 2008 but obviously it will improve their chances if no Chinese athletes are tested positive during competition.

The other point is that the test was done at the last moment after being approved by the IOC and they have suddenly discovered these athletes might now fail the test.

Subject to tests

The Chinese team arrive into Sydney on 11 September and will be subject to the same out of competition tests as other athletes at the Games.

It is anticipated there will be other withdrawals ahead of the games.

There have been isolated cases of absences due to 'medical' reasons but the medical reasons have not been fully explained.

There is an anticipation that competitors from other nations will pull out for fear of falling foul of the new EPO test.