2014 World Cup: Brazil set to be without anti-doping laboratory

Lagos -  The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), on Wednesday said that the 2014 FIFA World Cup host, Brazil, would be without an accredited anti-doping laboratory for the tournament.

The FIFA World Cup is slated to hold from June 12 to July 13, 2014.

It will be recalled that WADA had in September revoked the accreditation of LADETEC, the laboratory Brazil was planning to use for the World Cup.

A statement by WADA disclosed that a new laboratory in Rio de Janeiro was being set up, but unlikely in time for the World Cup.

It said that FIFA had confirmed that samples collected from players during the tournament would have to be flown back to Lausanne, Switzerland for analyses.

The statement quoted the WADA president, John Fahey, saying: “Rio didn’t measure up there. We will work with them through our science team to get that back (lab accreditation).

“I don’t think that’s going to happen in a hurry, certainly not before the World Cup. Clearly that will involve another laboratory.

“You can move samples these days with aircraft and regular flights and I am sure that as the event organiser, FIFA will come to that conclusion. It’s their responsibility”.

It said Fahey noted that in spite of time constraints, the laboratory would not be fast-tracked because of the 2016 Rio Olympics and Paralympics.

“We will do our best to ensure it happens as soon as possible but without compromising the quality that is essential for the work the laboratories must do,’’ Fahey said.

Meanwhile, following Fahey’s comments, the World football governing body has confirmed in a statement that the analysis of samples would be carried out outside of Brazil.

“As WADA confirmed that following due process the LADETEC laboratory would not be able to achieve re-accreditation in time for the World Cup.

“FIFA has no other option but to handle the analysis of samples abroad,’’ FIFA statement said.

It added that the LAD laboratory in Lausanne was already mandated on the occasion of the FIFA Confederations Cup 2013 for the handling of the analysis for the biological profile of athletes. (NAN)