IOA blames NADA for dope test lab suspension, massive fight breaks out

The Indian Olympic Association on Friday lashed out at the National Anti-Doping Agency for the suspension of the country's only WADA-accredited laboratory, saying NADA's "mistakes" have jeopardised the anti-doping programme here.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) suspended the National Dope Testing Laboratory in Delhi for six months "due to non-conformities with the International Standard for Laboratories (ISL)". The NADA can appeal the suspension in the next 21 days. The NADA can still carry on with sample collection (blood and urine) but will have to get them tested by a WADA-accredited laboratory outside India.

NDTL had got WADA accreditation back in 2008. "We will now have to pay in dollars instead of rupees. My only concern now is who will bear the extra cost?" Indian Olympic Association President Narinder Batra told the media.

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"The National Sports Federations (NSFs) are not in a position to bear the extra cost. And why should we bear the extra cost for NADA's mistakes?" he asked. The WADA said the suspension came after it's Laboratory Expert Group (LabEG) initiated disciplinary proceedings with regards to the status of WADA-accredited laboratories across the globe.

The IOA chief said a negligent NADA sat on the issue for a long time despite repeated reminders from WADA.

"This issue has been going on internally for the last year. The WADA has been pointing drawbacks in the NDTL's testing methods but the NADA has failed to manage its affairs," Batra said. NADA Director General Navin Agarwal remained unavailable for comments despite repeated attempts to reach him by PTI.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) had suspended the accreditation of (NDTL) for six months in a blow to India's anti-doping programme, the cost of which will rise significantly now. The lab, which got WADA accreditation in 2008, is no longer authorised to carry out testing of the samples as the suspension is effective August 20.

The development is a setback for India with less than a year left for the Tokyo Olympics. The National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) can still collect samples (blood and urine) but will have to get them tested by a WADA-accredited laboratory outside India.

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