WADA suspends accreditation of India’s National Dope Testing Laboratory for 6 months

World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) suspended accreditation of National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL) for six months. This suspension was imposed due to non-conformities with International Standard for Laboratories (ISL) by NDTL as identified during WADA site visit.

Reasons for Suspension

WADA had given repeated warnings to NDTL to upgrade its testing methods. Since 2011, lot of positive doping reports were reported out of NDTL in cases where Indian athletes were actually tested negative earlier by it. With rising trust issues, WADA had warned NDTL to improve its testing methods and types of equipment in September 2018.

But NDTL subsequently failed to meet standards, forcing WADA to recommend its suspension following its visit to the lab in May 2019. One of the key areas of concern for WADA was the ‘Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry’, which differentiates the presence of a natural and synthetic substance in the body.

Impact of Suspension

This suspension (effective from 20 August 2019) prohibits NDTL from carrying out any anti-doping activities, including all analyses of urine and blood samples Despite six-month suspension, NADA can still carry on sample collection but tests will have to be conducted at WADA-accredited labs outside India during this period. Moreover, samples collected previously by NDTL will have to be moved safely to an accredited lab.

About World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)

It is global Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) that aims at harmonizing anti-doping regulations in all sports and countries. It is collective initiative led by the International Olympic Committee.

It was established in 1999 in Lausanne Switzerland under so called Declaration of Lausanne. Its headquarters is in Montreal, Canada.

It is mandated to coordinate, promote and monitor the fight against drugs in sports.

Month: Current Affairs - August, 2019