KEY POINTS:
It's tough getting a handle on two of the most potentially contentious issues of the Beijing Olympics.
Air pollution has been a major issue ever since the city was named to host the event - and doping is likely to rear its ugly head, if not during the
Games, then soon after.
The city, which in the past has being described as the air pollution capital of the world, has furiously been trying to clean up its act.
Organisers, predictably, say they have been working hard on air pollution and come August 8, everyone will be wondering what all the fuss was about.
They point to the fact that they have closed 196 factories in the city since China won the bid; 163 of the plants have been relocated, and also their staff.
There are also plans to remove a million cars from the roads for the duration of the Games, which organisers hope will reduce what some have described as Beijing's "dirty white shroud".
Many athletes visiting the city for pre-Olympic competitions have voiced their concerns over the effect pollution will have on them and their performances.
The British have gone as far as issuing their athletes with specially designed masks. On the advice of sports scientists and doctors, athletes competing in athletics, rowing and cycling will be offered the high-tech, anti-pollution masks to avoid respiratory problems during final preparations for the Games.
Under Olympic rules they cannot wear the masks to compete but will be encouraged to wear them while warming up for their events.
Athletes wearing masks will not be a good look for the Chinese as they try to present their best face to the watching world.
Only last week, Ethiopian distance legend Haile Gebrselassie warned he might withdraw from the marathon because of pollution fears. The four-time world champion and double 10,000m champion, has allergies to pollen.
In December, air pollution was so bad that people were encouraged to stay indoors.
The drugs issue is also potentially embarrassing to organisers desperate for the Games to be a success. They are making all the right noises, saying they want a clean Games and that doping will not be tolerated.
They say that 4500 tests will be run during the Games, the largest number in the history of the event.
Details were "still under development", but the Beijing Organising Committee "would have a world class anti-doping centre".
The Chinese Government had a hard-line attitude towards doping and there would be heavy penalties for violations.
Organisers said doping was "an enemy of sport and the Olympic Games".
Whether that's enough to discourage doping at these Games, only time will tell.
And then there's the issue of security. It's not something anyone wants to talk about, but you get the feeling there will be plenty of it.
The Chinese have had lots of practice at it.
