BEIJING (Reuters) - Jamaican athletes have undergone an "extremely unusual" number of doping tests since arriving in Beijing for the Olympic Games, potentially harming their performance, the team's chef de mission said on Wednesday.

More than 32 blood and urine tests have been conducted on Jamaican athletes in the past five days alone, a number that has alarmed team officials.

"We are concerned that this could have a serious effect on our athletes," Don Anderson told Reuters. "We feel there has been an exceedingly long list of tests and we find this extremely unusual."

Former 100 metres world record holder Asafa Powell has complained drugs testers had come calling so often and taken so much blood it could have an impact on his performance.

He said team mates Michael Frater and Usain Bolt, the current 100 metres world record holder, were also under constant scrutiny from testers.

"There is certainly far more testing," Anderson said. "It is a major concern to us and they (testers) have taken a lot of blood."

Some Jamaican athletes were tested as often as three times in the past seven days, Anderson said.

"This is not a protest but we are just saying that it is rather unusual," he said.

The showdown between Bolt, Powell and U.S. sprinter Tyson Gay in the 100 metres is one of the most eagerly awaited events on the Olympic programme. The final is on August 16.

The International Olympic Committee has increased the number of doping tests during the Beijing Games to 4,500, up from about 3,500 in Athens four years ago.

IOC spokeswoman Giselle Davies said the organisation had not received any complaints.

"We have a very comprehensive doping programme," Davies told reporters. "If athletes have any concerns they should raise them with the authorities."

The IOC had also urged international federations to conduct extensive testing prior to the Games in an effort to reduce the possibility of drugs cheats making it to Beijing.

So far only one athlete, Spanish cyclist Maribel Moreno, has tested positive for drugs from Games testing.

(Editing by Keith Weir)