A top Chinese sports official says athletes, coaches and team doctors must pass a written exam on banned substances ahead of the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro as part of the countrys zero-tolerance stance on doping.Vice director of the General Administration of Sports Gao Zhidian told the official Xinhua News Agency on Thursday that only those scoring 80 percent or more will be permitted to go to Rio.Olympics-bound athletes and coaches are also required to sign pledges not to cheat, with Gao saying violators would be severely punished.China has been firmly against doping and has a zero-tolerance approach to this particular problem, said Gao, who is also deputy chef de mission of Chinas 711-member Olympic delegation. We have made it very clear that we want to ensure fair play and the well-being of athletes.China has sought to shake off a reputation for doping, particularly in distance running and swimming, that gave rise to multiple scandals in the 1990s.That resolve was questioned when it emerged that officials waited six months before revealing that champion swimmer Sun Yang served a three-month suspension after testing positive in May 2014. Sun, the gold medalist in the 400- and 1,500-meter freestyle at the 2012 London Olympics, was named male swimmer of the meet at the world championships in Kazan, Russia, in August.China is sending 416 athletes to Rio, including 35 former Olympic champions. China topped the table at the 2008 Games and won the second-most medals in London, including 38 golds.Based on recent performances by Chinese athletes, some studies predict the country could return to the top of the table at Rio with as many as 39 golds.The Associated Press contributed to this report. .com) - The Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks both take aim at their first wins of the season on Saturday, as the Canucks open their home slate at Rogers Arena. . Vettel, who has already clinched his fourth straight F1 title, enters the finale with a chance to equal Michael Schumachers 13 victories in a year and match the record of nine consecutive wins by Alberto Ascari in the 1952 and 1953 seasons. ., and Rudi Swiegers of Kipling, Sask., took sixth spot on Saturday in pairs at the NHK Trophy ISU Grand Prix figure skating competition. . Despite dominating possession, Schalke needed an own goal from Nicolas Hoefler for the breakthrough a minute before the interval. The Freiburg midfielder misjudged Jefferson Farfans corner and bundled the ball into his own net. . From filmmaker Nanette Burstein (On the Ropes), The Price of Gold revisits the saga that rocked the figure skating world ahead of the 1994 Lillehammer Olympic Winter Games: the assault on Nancy Kerrigan, and the plot that led its way back to her rival Tonya Harding. LAS VEGAS -- Mike Krzyzewski is working with his team when suddenly Gregg Popovich enters the gym with his own guys looking to play ball.Krzyzewski vs. Popovich. Five-time NCAA champion vs. five-time NBA champion. Its a mega matchup that would look good on one of the giant marquees that light up Las Vegas.Except this is just practice for the 2016 Olympics.And for 2020.While Krzyzewski readies the Americans for Rio, Popovich is getting an early start on his own Olympic preparations. The San Antonio Spurs coach is overseeing the Select Team of young players training against the U.S. this week, and some of those players might be in the mix when Popovich coaches the Americans in Tokyo.Hes seen what were doing and its called succession, Krzyzewski said. The fact that were both military guys, we understand that I have the unit right now, hes going to take command of the unit, and we both want the unit to do well.During practices this week, Popovich works with the young players in one part of UNLVs basketball complex while Krzyzewski and his staff put the national team through drills in another. Eventually, the Select Team heads into the main gym for scrimmaging.But Popovich isnt just here to help the young guys. Hes basically a behind-the-scenes assistant for Krzyzewski.Pop is in all the meetings, hes participating and this is giving him a feel for how we do things, and so its a seamless transition, USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo said.Thats what Colangelo had in mind when he announced Popovichs hiring in October. That allowed Popovich to become a part of the program before he inherits it.I get to spend time with Coach K and Mr. Colangelo and pick their brains, see how they operate, see what works, Popovich said. If I learn from them it makes it a lot easier and smoother for me when I end up doing this, so watching them operate is a huge advantage for me in that sense.Krzyzewski is ending his run after Rio, one that started when Colangelo chose the Duke coach over Popovich when he started the national team program in 2005. There was some anger after, as Popovich -- an Air Force Academy grraduate -- felt Colangelo mischaracterized his interest in his national teams job when explaining the choice to the media.ddddddddddddThey met last summer in Carmel, California, to clear the air about the past and start laying out the future. Colangelo offered Popovich the job, which he soon accepted as long as Colangelo agreed to stay on for four more years.But before Popovich gets to coach the All-Stars, hes got the future stars.The Select Team is made up of young NBA players and serves as a way to get into the USA Basketball pipeline. Thats how 10 of the 12 members of this Olympic team got their start, with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving in particular using their stints as springboards to stardom.There are 25 players on this years roster, some a few years into the NBA and others just a few months out of college, such as No. 2 pick Brandon Ingram. Being invited this week means they have talent, and a few days under Popovich can only make them better.Honestly, Coach Pop, hes saying a lot of things Ive heard from my coaches before, but when you hear it from Coach Pop it sticks in that much more, Phoenix Suns All-Rookie selection Devin Booker said.But Popovich is doing more than working with the younger guys. Hes making his mark on this years team, which has some players who have never suited up for Krzyzewski, by providing his knowledge about them.Popovich will lead the Americans in the 2019 Basketball World Cup and then the Tokyo Games. He was an assistant to Larry Brown at the 2004 Olympics, when a hastily assembled U.S. team lost three times in a third-place finish, so hes seen what happened to unprepared teams before Colangelo and Krzyzewski overhauled the program.Now hes got four years to get ready.Theyve changed this whole thing since 2004, when it was a debacle, Popovich said. Now its this, and Id be ignorant if I didnt try to figure out everything that theyve done to make it like this.---Follow Brian Mahoney on Twitter:
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