From Inside the Games
The accreditation of two laboratories based in Kazakhstan and South Africa has been revoked by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
The Athletes’ Anti-Doping Laboratory in Almaty and the South African Doping Control Laboratory (SADoCoL) in Bloemfontein had both been provisionally suspended last year by the agency, meaning neither could carry out testing.
This was due to “non-compliance with the International Standard for Laboratories (ISL)”.
The Kazakhstani laboratory was initially given a four-month suspension in June 2016 before this was extended to a year.
SADoCoL’s ban, originally set at five months in May 2016, was also increased.
Now, following reviews from WADA’S Laboratory Expert Group (LabEG), it has been determined that neither site has made the necessary improvements needed to gain reinstatement.
Along with this, WADA decided that both laboratories should have their accreditations removed.
The result of this is that there are now no accredited laboratories in Africa, while the number in Asia drops to six.
“At the end of these extended suspension periods, WADA’s LabEG considered that neither Laboratory had satisfactorily addressed the outstanding non-conformities with the ISL,” a WADA statement said.
“Accordingly, the LabEG reported the cases to the WADA Disciplinary Committee, which is constituted to review such cases and issue recommendations.
“Consequently, recommendations were made to the Executive Committee, which decided that both Laboratories’ WADA accreditation should be revoked.”
Both laboratories have until July 20 to file appeals against the decision.