China to resume anti-doping testing halted due to virus

MONTREAL (AP) — China’s anti-doping regulators will restart testing that was suspended earlier this month due to the virus outbreak in the country.

The World Anti-Doping Agency said Friday that Chinese authorities were prepared to start testing again “on a phased basis,” with priority going to elite athletes in the most at-risk sports.

China suspended its testing program inside the country on Feb. 3, over concerns about the spread of the virus. The country has postponed and moved a number of high-profile sporting events, including several that count as Olympic qualifiers.

WADA said Chinese authorities will gradually expand their testing based on the progress of the country’s efforts to halt the virus, known as COVID-19. It has caused the deaths of about 2,250 people since it emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan late last year.