Drugs in Sport: China's top backstroke swimmer Ouyang Kunpeng has been banned for life for doping, dealing the host nation an embarrassing blow just 42 days before the start of the Beijing Olympics.
Ouyang tested positive for the anabolic steroid clenbuterol.
Chinese swimmers were embroiled in a series of doping scandals in the 1990s but the country's sporting authorities had pledged to weed out drug cheats before the Beijing Games.
The 25-year-old Ouyang won three individual silver medals at the 2006 Asian Games and three golds at the 2003 world university games.
"The swimmer Ouyang Kunpeng tested positive in an out-of-competition test on May 1st," read an official Chinese Swimming Association statement.
"The Chinese Swimming Association decided to give him a life ban . . . although we have done lots of work, this positive case still happened, which is a deep lesson for us.
"We are going to take a clear stand on anti-doping work and firmly crack down on any violations."
His coach Feng Shangbao has also been banned for life, the notice said.