World Anti-Doping Agency reinstates Rio de Janeiro drug testing lab
By Andy Charles
Last Updated: 20/07/16 11:38pm
Rio de Janeiro's drug testing laboratory has been reinstated by the World Anti-Doping Agency just over two weeks before the start of the Olympic Games.
The lab was suspended last month after WADA complained over its "nonconformity with International Standard for Laboratories".
But in a statement on Wednesday, WADA said the Rio laboratory "has successfully complied with the ISL's requirements for reinstatement and no further suspension is required".
The news comes as a relief for local organisers and the International Olympic Committee, which would have been forced to send thousands of samples abroad for testing.
A statement from Brazil's sports ministry read: "The confirmation of the laboratory as an institution responsible for the anti-doping tests during the Olympics and Paralympics at Rio 2016 reinforces the confidence of the ministry and Brazilian anti-doping agency in the work carried out by the Rio anti-doping lab."
A week after the laboratory was suspended in June, Brazil sacked the head of its anti-doping body, Marco Aurelio Klein being replaced by former Olympic judo champion Rogerio Sampaio.
