Nine drug retailers in Anshan City, northeastern China's Liaoning Province, have been disqualified for illegal trading, a spokeswoman for the State Food and Drug Administration said yesterday.

Yan Jiangying said in recent sting operations in Anshan, nine local drug stores were found selling tablets and injections claimed to enhance sporting performance.

Yan said SFDA officials led investigation teams to Beijing and other host cities in the Chinese mainland for the 2008 Beijing Olympics -- Shanghai, Tianjin, Shenyang, Qingdao and Qinhuangdao.

Shenzhen, a city bordering Hong Kong, was also on the list for investigation.

The teams met local drug manufacturers and traders, and signed responsibility contracts with them which banned the production or trading of performance-enhancing drugs, Yan said.

In addition, the food and drug authorities oversaw online information on dope-related trades.

An inter-agency supervision group is to be formed later this month to strengthen regulations on drugs manufacturing and trading.

(Xinhua News Agency June 7, 2008)