Following the release yesterday of the [link id=”10613″ text=”WADA Independent Commission Report”], the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has acted immediately on one of the Report’s key recommendations: to suspend the accreditation of the Moscow Anti-doping Centre.
The suspension, which takes effect immediately, prohibits the Moscow Anti-doping Centre from carrying out any WADA-related anti-doping activities including all analyses of urine and blood samples.
The Moscow Anti-doping Centre may appeal this decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) within 21 days of receipt of notice.
Pursuant to article 4.4.13.2.1 of the International Standard for Laboratories, whenever WADA has justified reason to believe that the suspension or revocation of a laboratory accreditation is required in order to protect the interest of the Anti-Doping Community, [link id=”340″ tax=”post_tag” text=”WADA”] may immediately suspend a laboratory’s accreditation.
This monitoring process is conducted in conjunction with ISO assessment by independent national accreditation bodies that are full members of the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC).
A Disciplinary Committee will therefore be formed shortly and will be required to review the case, on the basis of the Procedural Rules adopted by the WADA Executive Committee. This Disciplinary Committee will issue a recommendation with respect to the laboratory’s accreditation status.
In the meantime, all samples for the Moscow Antidoping Centre will now be transported securely, promptly and with a demonstrable chain of custody to an alternative WADA-accredited laboratory.
“WADA has acted swiftly to one of the key recommendations made by the Independent Commission in its Report,” said WADA President, [link id=”341″ tax=”post_tag” text=”Sir Craig Reedie.”]
“The Moscow Laboratory is provisionally suspended, and the status of the laboratory’s accreditation beyond that will be decided by a Disciplinary Committee which will be formed shortly to review the case.”
Key Facts in WADA’s Decision
- The accreditation of the Moscow Anti-doping Centre is provisionally suspended with immediate effect.
- This provisional suspension shall remain in effect until the earlier of: (a) 6 months from the notification of this decision, and (b) Decision of the Chairman of the WADA Executive Committee or of the WADA Executive Committee upon possible suspension or revocation of the WADA accreditation of the Moscow Antidoping Centre, on the basis of the recommendation to be issued by the Disciplinary Committee for the International Standard for Laboratories.
- In the interim, samples analysed by the Moscow Anti-doping Centre shall be transported securely, promptly and with a demonstrable chain of custody to another WADA-accredited laboratory.
- This decision is notified to all relevant national public authorities, national accreditation bodies, national anti-doping organizations, national Olympic committees, international federations and the International Olympic Committee, as stipulated in the International Standard for Laboratories.
[link id=”10627″ text=”Watch the WADA Report press conference”]
Meet The Authors
Yomog Meje is a former Nigerian junior athlete and the Associate editor at Athletics Africa.
