A Beijing Organizing Committee said this week that athletes at next year's Beijing Olympics will be able to use traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) without fearing failure of drug tests that all Olympic athletes must take.

However, all TCM products ill face the same scrutiny and regulatory review as those drugs brought over from then west. A doctor who is responsible for medical services at the upcoming games did state, however, that "There is no direct relation between Chinese traditional herbal medicine and doping."

TCM products are generally all-natural and are not manufactured as pharmaceutical products and generally are excellent for human health (from immune support to sexual health). At least someone agrees that commercially-produced steroid drugs and TCM products are not in the same league -- they are not even close.