The World Anti-Doping Association (WADA) has lifted the suspension of the accredidation of the National Anti-Doping Laboratory in Beijing, China.
The lab was first suspended in April amid a run of suspensions in the leadup to the 2016 Olympic Games that included labs in South America, Europe, Africa, and Asia.
The lab was ordered to correct 5 fault-findings to regain its accredidation under the International Sandard for Laboratories (ISL). Those issues included addressing non-conformities identified in External Qualify Assesment Scheme.
“WADA is pleased to confirm that the Beijing Laboratory’s accreditation has been reinstated just ahead of the maximum four-month suspension that was issued in April,” said WADA Director General, Olivier Niggli. “We are confident that the laboratory has corrected its deficiencies; and, will now be operating to the high standards required by WADA,” he added.
The lab is now allowed to perform testing on urine and blood samples immediately.
There are 34 WADA-accredited laboratories in the world, and the one in Beijing is one of 7 locateed on the vast Asian continent. While the lab was suspended, samples that initially would have been sent there had to be sent elsewhere.
The following labs are still suspended:
- Lisbon, Portugal (April 15, 2016)
- Madrid, Spain (June 6, 2016)
- Bloemfontein, South Africa (May 3, 2016)
- Almaty, Kazakhstan (June 24, 2016)
The Bloemfontein lab was cleared a couple of weeks ago to test blood samples. Is the lab still considered suspended as reported in the article if it was cleared to test blood samples? Or is a lab only considered unsuspended if it has been cleared to run all types of tests?
J.C. – it’s a little bit of a hair-splitting here, but basically, Bloemfontein has received their accredidation back, but cannot resume testing until September 30th, according to the latest information made public by WADA. So they’re “accredited,” but still “suspended.” At least as best as we know right now.
Thanks for the further info Braden. Are all tests resuming Sept. 30, or just blood tests? Are labs that have previously been suspended monitored more closely than others who were not suspended?
J.C. – from the information we have, all tests resume, though information is notoriously hard to come by from WADA. I don’t know what the procedure is once they return to validity – but my guess is that WADA and the ISL would say something to the effect of ‘we hold all labs to equally high standards.’