Russian Lab Likely to Avoid Olympic Ban

By The Associated Press

Dec. 2, 2013

The World Anti-Doping Agency, or WADA, expects the Russian laboratory assigned to test samples at the Sochi Olympics to meet Sunday's deadline for improving its operations.

WADA director general David Howman said Friday that he was awaiting the paperwork from the Moscow lab that faces potential suspension for the Feb. 7-23 Winter Games.

"I have no reason to have any concern about it," Howman told The Associated Press on the sidelines of an anti-doping conference. ?

WADA threatened the lab with a six-month suspension if it failed to fulfill a two-part demand: to detail a new management program by Dec. 1 and implement it by April 1.

WADA accredits testing labs worldwide, though the International Olympic Committee is responsible overall for testing at the Games.

Moscow is setting up a "satellite" lab in Sochi to test samples during the Games. If the lab is suspended, the IOC would have to ship the samples out of the country to another lab for analysis.

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