RIO DE JANEIRO: Senior Olympic officials will turn up in Rio de Janeiro next week to check up on preparations for the 2016 Games to find Brazil’s anti-doping system in free-fall writes KEIR RADNEDGE.

The World Anti-Doping Agency has revoked the accreditation of the Rio laboratory because of repeated non-compliance with the international standard and related documentation.

That is not good news as the International Olympic Committee’s co-ordination commission turns up en route for Buenos Aires and the movement’s elections congress.

Already members of the commission have stopped trying to hide their concerns over the tardy, confused state of Rio’s preparatory work – which has been overshadowed by similar concerns over Brazil’s readiness – or lack of it – for the World Cup next year.

The laboratory revocation was ordered by WADA’s executive committee after a disciplinary panel review following its initial suspension on August 8.

The revocation starts from September 25 and means that the laboratory will no longer be authorized to carry out the testing of doping control samples on behalf of WADA or any testing authority. The laboratory can appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

This is the second time the Rio laboratory has fallen below the WADA standards. It was also suspended for nine months in January 2012 and then reinstated.

################