WADA's Yang: Education key

More needs to be done to educate athletes' entourages about anti-doping regulations and "bad actors "should be held accountable, World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) vice-president Yang Yang told Xinhua in an exclusive interview.

Speaking on the sidelines of the Hangzhou Asian Games, Yang, a former Olympic short-track speed skating champion for China, says her experiences as an athlete have convinced her that education is the best way to combat doping.

"All the evidence we have points to the fact that the vast majority of athletes are in sports for the right reasons. That is why we all must protect them," she said.

Yang believes the anti-doping system should strike a balance between "monitoring and punitive measures" and "supportive and preventive" policies.

"Education is the single best long-term solution for protecting the values of sport — clean sport. It is a critical component of the global anti-doping system," she said.

"I am especially concerned about the management of athletes' support personnel. It's necessary for them to get enough anti-doping education and be held accountable if they are 'bad actors'," said Yang.

Yang pointed out that athletes are often easily influenced by people close to them — coaches, medics, and other support personnel.

"I am glad that WADA's education program includes these entourages. All stakeholders must be well-informed — there can be no weak links," she said.

Yang is glad to see that the International Olympic Committee, WADA and the International Testing Agency have started to collaborate in this area.

"I believe there will be pertinent measures implemented in the feasible future," she said.

Xinhua