Olympics

Unclear whether suspended doping lab will be ready in time for Olympics

International Olympic Committee officials are doubting whether the suspended anti-doping laboratory in Rio de Janeiro can be open by Aug. 5. the start of the Summer Games.

Suspension for wrongly interpreting test results and producing false positives

The World Anti-doping Agency announced Friday it had suspended a lab in Rio. (Vanderlei Almeida/Getty Images)

A top International Olympic Committee official says it's unclear if the suspended anti-doping laboratory for the Rio de Janeiro Olympics can be reopened before the games start in under six weeks.

Olympic Games Executive Director Christophe Dubi says "this is something that is doable, but there are a number of steps that need to be taken."

The World Anti-doping Agency announced Friday it had suspended the lab. Dubi said Sunday the suspension was for "wrongly interpreting" test results and producing "false positives."

Thousands of blood and urine tests will need to be shipped abroad if the lab remains closed.

Officials of the lab said Friday they expected "operations to return to normal in July." Brazil's anti-doping authority, known as ABCD and run by the sports ministry, shared the same view.