Technical oversight results in suspension, Beijing anti-doping lab says

BEIJING -- Technical mistakes caused the Beijing anti-doping lab to be suspended by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), the lab head said here on Friday.

WADA announced Friday that it has suspended its accreditation of the National Anti-Doping Laboratory in Beijing, China for a maximum period of four months.

The suspension will take effect immediately and stops the lab from carrying out any WADA-related anti-doping activities including all analyses of urine and blood samples, WADA said in a statement on its official website.

"We reported two false negative results in WADA's technical tests last year. WADA will suspend the accreditation of a lab up to six months if it reports two false negative results in tests," lab chief Xu Youxuan explained the reason for the suspension.

"The problem took place because we failed to follow WADA's latest technique requirements and there were oversights in reviewing the analysis," he said.

Xu told Xinhua that the lab staff already conducted a thorough review of the test methods and made improvements.

"Our lab now can meet WADA's latest technique requirements. We will apply for a WADA inspection and try to be reinstated as soon as possible," Xu said.

During the suspension, samples will be transported to another WADA-accredited laboratory while Beijing lab can appeal the decison to the Court of Arbitration for Sport within 21 days.

WADA said the lab may apply for reinstatement if it can meet the requirements put forth by the Disciplinary Committee.