The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) announced today the suspension of the Laboratorio de Control de Dopaje (Laboratory) in Madrid, Spain. The announcement comes as a direct result of WADA’s March 19, 2016 ruling that the Spanish Anti-Doping Agency (AEPSAD) was non-compliant.
This suspension of the laboratory means that they will be prohibited from testing any WADA-related material, including urine analyses or blood samples. The suspension will go into effect immediately, however the laboratory can appeal the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport up to 21 days after receipt of notice in pursuant to Article 13.7 of the World Anti-Doping Code.
In Article 4.4 of the International Standard for Laboratories (ISL), WADA notes that
…In order for a laboratory to maintain its accreditation status, the NADO of the country of the laboratory must be Code compliant, as determined by WADA. However, following a revision to ISL rules effective 2 June 2016, WADA may decide not to suspend a laboratory’s accreditation in a case of non-compliance of that country’s NADO if, in the year before the declaration of non-compliance, at least 60% of samples analyzed by that laboratory were provided by Anti-Doping Organizations other than the NADO of the country’s laboratory.
This upcoming revision, however, does not apply to the laboratory in Madrid and they will remain suspended until the AEPSAD is declared compliant.
Of important mention is the fact that, despite the suspension of the laboratory in Madrid, Spain’s other laboratory, Fundacio Institut Mar D’Investigacions Mediques–IMIM), located in Barcelona has maintained their accreditation.
This newest suspension comes on the heels of labs being suspended in Beijing and Africa, and revocation of Moscow’s license. Previously, WADA had also revoked the accreditation of the laboratory in Rio due to non-compliance with the ISL.
The growing number of labs being suspended demonstrates WADA’s commitment to cracking down on doping as we race towards this summer’s Olympic Games in Rio. However, WADA has noted that the laboratory bans will not affect testing at the Rio Games.
The full list of WADA accredited can be found here, while the full WADA suspension can be found here.