R$ 188 Million Doping Testing Laboratory Is Suspended from the Olympic Games
WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) announced on Friday the 24th that the laboratory in charge of processing exams in the Rio-2016 Games has been suspended provisionally for six months, in other words, until December.
It is the only laboratory in the country certified by the global agency. The Olympic Games will take place from August 5 to 21. The Paralympics will take place September 7 to 18.
The unit, LBCD (Brazilian Doping Control Laboratory), is located in Rio inside the UFRJ (Federal University of Rio de Janeiro) facilities and cost R$ 188 million (US$ 53 million), which was paid for by the Federal Government.
According to WADA, the issue is related to conformity to international laboratory standards. Folha has learned that technical errors were found in procedures inspected by WADA. The suspension has been in place since Wednesday, the 22nd, when the notification was given.
For now, the LDBC is prohibited from performing blood or urine anti-doping tests. Brazilian authorities have the right to appeal to CAS (Court of Arbitration for Sport) within a period of up to 21 days from when notification was given.
If WADA's decision isn't overturned, the approximately 6.000 exams expected to be collected during the Olympics will have to be performed in another country.
Tests that would have been processed by LBCD would have to be sent to another laboratory certified by the global agency.
LBCD, formerly known as Ladetec, had previously lost its certification with WADA in 2013 due to equipment problems - the unit had had the global agency's endorsement since 2002.
The certification was only issued again in May of 2015, after a lengthy process involving many assessments from WADA.
TAX-PAYER MONEY
The Federal Government invested R$ 188 million in LBCD's overhaul and expansion. Of the total, the Sports Ministry was responsible for R$ 160 million (US$ 45 million) while the Education Ministry paid R$ 28 million (US$ 8 million).
The money spent went towards the construction of a new building and the purchase of equipment for the installation.
In a written communication, the ABCD (Brazilian Doping Control Authority) declared "we reiterate the importance of the Brazilian Doping Control Laboratory in the performance of anti-doping tests during the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Rio 2016, with its technical-scientific legacy in the fight against doping in sports".
Mario Andrada, Rio-2016's Executive Communication Director, affirmed that the organizing committee had been advised about the loss of certification of Thursday, the 23rd.
"Our commitment to clean Olympic Games doesn't change. We are working with zero-tolerance (for doping). Now we are waiting for further instructions from WADA regarding the way in which doping control will be carried out", he said.
Translated by LLOYD HARDER