Eight Chinese drug cheats banned

Eight Chinese athletes have been banned after testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs during a crackdown ahead of the Beijing Olympics, state press reported on Wednesday.

Two of the athletes were with China's national team, including wrestler Luo Meng and men's swimmer Ouyang Kunpeng, whose lifetime ban was announced last week, Titan Sports said.

Two coaches were also barred for life, including Ouyang's coach Feng Shangbao and Luo's trainer, who was not named, the paper said.