World Anti-Doping Agency suspends Rio drug-testing laboratory

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has suspended the Brazilian Doping Control Laboratory in Rio.

The lab didn't conform to the International Standard for Laboratories, WADA said in a release. The lab cannot conduct anti-doping analyses on urine and blood samples while its accreditation is suspended.

"In the meantime, WADA will work closely with the Rio laboratory to resolve the identified issue," WADA incoming director general Olivier Niggli said in the release.

The suspension is an embarrassment to Brazil and Rio so close to the Summer Games, which open Aug. 5 after months of political turmoil and financial crisis for federal, state and city authorities.

The failings of the Rio laboratory, known as Ladetec, have previously been exposed by WADA suspending its accreditation in 2012, after a false positive test result, and revoking its status in 2013.

No details of the laboratory's failings were specified, the Associated Press reported.

"The agency will ensure that, for the time being, samples that would have been intended for the laboratory will be transported securely, promptly and with a demonstrable chain of custody to another WADA-accredited laboratory worldwide," Niggli said.

Rio risks being without a hometown lab during the Olympics two years after a testing operation in the city was shut down ahead of the 2014 World Cup.

Ban stays for 6 months

A WADA disciplinary committee will review the case. According to the agency, the ban will remain in effect until six months after the initial announcement.

"Athletes can have confidence that the suspension will only be lifted by WADA when the laboratory is operating optimally, and that the best solution will be put in place to ensure that sample analysis for the Rio Olympic and Paralympic Games is robust," Niggli said.

The laboratory can appeal against the suspension to the Court of Arbitration for Sport within 21 days.

FIFA found a solution to being without a lab during the 2014 World Cup that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Then, samples taken from soccer players were flown to be tested at a WADA-accredited lab in Lausanne, Switzerland. No blood samples missed the deadline of being tested within 36 hours of being given by an athlete.

If the Rio lab is not reinstated in the next six weeks, other testing centres with WADA accreditation include:

• UCLA in Los Angeles
• Salt Lake City, Utah
• Bogotá, Colombia
• Havana, Cuba
• Mexico City