China is promising an investigation into claims by a World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) official that the country is the source for an overwhelming majority of the raw materials used for banned performance-enhancing drugs.
WADA director general David Howman last week told Reuters that 99 percent of the raw materials used by criminal gangs around the world to make the drugs were emanating from China.
China anti-doping chief Jiang Zhixue on Tuesday said he was "shocked" by the comment and said he doubted those figures. State media said he is demanding more detailed information from WADA.
But he also said he will look into the allegation, acknowledging that the sale of banned drugs remains a problem in China.
Like many countries, China has been faced with a number of performance-enhancing drug scandals involving athletes. Although it remains a problem, many experts say China's doping record has improved in recent years.