Rio de Janerio, May 9 (IANS) Brazil’s doping control laboratory in Rio de Janeiro is set to be accredited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) next week, officials said.
The facility, earmarked to be used during the Rio 2016 Olympics, had its license revoked in 2013 after WADA said it failed to meet international standards, Xinhua reported.
But a new laboratory has been built and staff have been working since August 2014 to ensure its full reaccreditation, according to Rio2016.com.
Known as the Brazilian Doping Control Laboratory (LBCD/LADETEC), the facility was certified to analyse blood for athletes’ biological passports by WADA in March.
Full accreditation would allow it to analyze samples during the Rio 2016 test events, which start in July.
Ricardo Leyser, executive secretary of Brazil’s sports ministry, said the laboratory will perform all types of blood and urine analysis.
“I believe that the laboratory is one of the main legacies of the Rio 2016 Games, because it will guarantee that athletes who train hard will face their rivals in equal conditions, and this is the principal of fair competition,” he said.
The facility will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, during the Rio Games, which will be held from August 5 to 21 next year.