Indian Doping Testing body suspended by WADA

The World Anti-Doping Agency(WADA) has decided to suspend the accreditation granted to the National Dope Testing Laboratory, India.

What has happened?

• The WADA has withdrawn the accreditation granted the Indian National Dope Testing Laboratory a duration of six months.
• This move by the WADA has dealt a massive setback to the anti-doping movement in India at a time when very little (less than one year’s time) is left for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
• While WADA has allowed the National Anti-Doping Agency to acquire physical samples from the athletes like blood and urine, it will have to get the solutions tested from any other WADA accredited laboratory outside India during the 6 month-long suspension period.
• The ban on the National Anti-Doping Laboratory was imposed due to specific non-conformities and violations obtained with the International Standard for Laboratories (ISL) which were identified during a routine WADA site inspection.
• WADA has ordered the NDTL to stop all testing procedures with an immediate effect and transfer all samples in its possession to separate accredited lab.

What is doping?

• ‘Doping’ is an unfair practice in which the athlete uses prohibited drugs or methods to improve his/her training regime and obtain better results.
• While condemned internationally, a few nations are alleged to have state-sponsored doping programs to obtain a better finish in the medals tally.?