WADA Extends Suspension of India's Dope Testing Laboratory for 6 Months

Business Standard WADA extends suspension of India's dope testing laboratory for 6 months

The suspension prohibits the NDTL from carrying out any anti-doping activities, including all analyses of urine and blood samples.

In a jolt to India's Olympic preparations, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has extended the suspension of the country's National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL) by another six months citing non-conformation to international standards.

The WADA first suspended NDTL in August last year for a period of six months.

A fresh round of inspection by the world body, much to the embarrassment of country's sporting establishment, showed that non-conformities still existed.

"The World Anti-Doping Agency has suspended the accreditation of the National Dope Testing Laboratory in New Delhi, India, for a second period of up to six months," WADA said in a statement.

The suspension prohibits the NDTL from carrying out any anti-doping activities, including all analyses of urine and blood samples.

The laboratory's non-conformities pertain to the International Standard for Laboratories (ISL) identified during a WADA site visit, including the laboratory's isotope ratio mass spectrometry -- the analytical technique of choice for confirmation of prohibited substances.

Currently, urine samples collected by National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) are being sent primarily to the WADA-accredited lab in Doha.

The WADA conducted a second inspection of NDTL in February. But corrective measures weren't found to be good enough to revoke the suspension, which is now extended till January, 2021.

"In February 2020, when the six-month suspension period elapsed and some outstanding non-conformities had not been addressed successfully, WADA's Laboratory Expert Group (LabEG) recommended the initiation of further disciplinary proceedings against the laboratory based on the outstanding nonconformities," the world body said.