NEW DELHI, July 22: In a massive 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. � PTI
