NEW DELHI -- The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has suspended the accreditation of the National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL) for six months.
It is understood that the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) can still carry on with sample collection (blood and urine) but will have to get tests done by a different WADA-accredited laboratory outside India during the suspension period.
"This suspension has been imposed due to non-conformities with the International Standard for Laboratories (ISL) as identified during a WADA site visit," WADA said in a media release. "In May 2019, disciplinary proceedings were initiated by WADA's Laboratory Expert Group (LabEG) and subsequently carried out by an independent Disciplinary Committee, which was mandated to make a recommendation to the chair of the WADA Executive Committee regarding the status of the laboratory's accreditation. This process is now complete."
The NDTL has been instructed to stop all testing procedures with immediate effect and all the samples need to be safely moved to an accredited lab.
"The suspension, which took effect on 20 August 2019, prohibits the NDTL from carrying out any anti-doping activities, including all analyses of urine and blood samples," WADA said. "During the period of suspension, samples that have not yet been analyzed by the NDTL; samples currently undergoing a confirmation procedure; and any samples for which an Adverse Analytical Finding has been reported, must be securely transported to another WADA-accredited laboratory."
The WADA has instructed the NDTL to address all the non-conformities that LabEG identified during their site visit. "If the laboratory satisfies the LabEG in meeting these requirements, it may apply for reinstatement prior to the expiry of the six-month suspension period," it said. "Should the laboratory not address the non-conformities by the end of the six-month suspension period, WADA may extend the suspension of the laboratory's accreditation for up to an additional six months."
The NDTL can appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sports in Lausanne in the next 21 days.