nike's Shanghai branch is buying back 251 jerseys sold mostly in 1998 winter on the Chinese mainland because the garments carry a potentially harmful chemical. Of the total 251 tainted Nike soccer jerseys, approximately 20 had been sold in Beijing. The other 230 jerseys were sold in Shanghai, Guangzhou and other places.

Originally meant for window-exhibition purposes, Nike officials admit that the jerseys contained the potentially harmful chemical Tributyltin (tbt). tbt is added to some sports jerseys to kill bacteria as well as quell the stench caused by perspiration. Accor-ding to scientists, in high concentrations, tbt can cause neurological problems in humans besides damaging the immune system and the liver.

However, laboratory tests carried out in Germany have indicated that the jerseys contain too little of the chemical to pose any harm to human beings.