WADA Revoke Accreditation to Turkish Lab

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has revoked the accreditation of the laboratory in Ankara, Turkey due to non-compliance with the International Standard for Laboratories (ISL) and the related Technical Documents.

The revocation will be effective as of 27 July, 2011 and will mean that the laboratory – which is currently suspended - will no longer be authorized to carry out testing of doping control samples on behalf of WADA or any testing authority.

The decision was taken by WADA’s Executive Committee following a thorough review of the status of the laboratory by WADA’s Disciplinary Panel.

WADA suspended the Ankara laboratory’s accreditation on 24 May, 2011 before a further decision was taken by the Executive Committee to revoke it.

The laboratory may appeal this decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport within 21 days. It may also choose to reapply for accreditation, but must begin the process again as a new laboratory as outlined in the ISL.

It is the second time the Ankara laboratory has fallen below the standards set by WADA. It was also suspended for three months in March 2009, and was reinstated following a WADA site visit that ensured proper corrective actions had been implemented.

Pursuant to the ISL, WADA is responsible for accrediting and re-accrediting anti-doping laboratories, thereby ensuring that they maintain the highest quality standards. This monitoring is conducted in conjunction with ISO assessment by independent national accreditation bodies that are full members of the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC).

Whenever a laboratory does not meet ISL requirements, WADA may suspend the laboratory’s accreditation. WADA may revoke a laboratory’s accreditation for repeated failures to comply with the ISL and related Technical Documents.