RIO DE JANEIRO: In a new embarrassment for Brazil’s sporting projects, the UFRJ Doping Control Laboratory in Rio de Janeiro has been suspended by the World Anti-Doping Agency writes KEIR RADNEDGE.

The suspension, effective from August 8, prohibits the LADETEC from carrying out any WADA-related anti-doping activities. Officials can appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport within the next 21 days.

The latest action adds to widespread concern over Brazil’s competence in it preparations for both the 2014 World Cup finals and the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

World football federation FIFA made no secret of the fact that – according to secretary-general Jerome Valcke – “corners had to be cut” in the staging of the warm-up Confederations Cup in June.

As for the Rio Games, confused existed until only recently over several sport venues and uncertainty continues to surround the budget. The Joao Havelange stadium, due to host track and field competition, remains shut over concerns about the roof.

Earlier this week Brazilian Sports Minister Aldo Rebelo conceded that lessons in preparation work had been learned from the Confederations Cup. What he did not say was whether they were being acted upon effectively.

The significance of doping control provisions has been underlined over the past year with the Lance Armstrong scandal, the wholesale suspensions of Turkish and Russian competitors topped off by the latest revelations of systematic doping over several decades in western Germany.

WADA is is responsible for the accredition of anti-doping laboratories in co-operation with independent national accreditation bodies signed yp to the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation.

Whenever a laboratory does not meet ISL requirements, WADA may suspend the laboratory’s accreditation.

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