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Brazil says problems have been solved at suspended Rio anti-doping lab

Xinhua, July 8, 2016 Adjust font size:

The problems that led the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to suspend an affiliated anti-doping lab in Rio de Janeiro have already been solved, according to the Brazilian government on Thursday.

In a press conference with foreign media, Sports Minister Leonardo Picciani said that the lab had found a failure in a test, solved it and communicated the issue to WADA.

"Since July 5, a WADA team has been visiting the lab. The problem that led the lab to be suspended has been identified and fully corrected," said Picciani. "We now expect WADA to re-open the lab before the Olympic Games as all the conditions have been met."

Picciani, however, did not provide the exact motive WADA suspended the Brazilian Doping Control Lab, which was meant to play a major part in anti-doping checks during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. The lab had re-opened on May 8 after a major overhaul to meet international anti-doping norms.

Should WADA reinstate it, the lab will work 24 hours a day during the Olympics, testing around 5,000 blood and urine samples, from August 5-21. Endit