Brazil says it can’t handle World Cup drug testing

An employee stand inside the National Stadium Mane Garrincha in Brasilia, Brazil. The stadium is being remodeled for the upcoming 2014 World Cup soccer tournament. AP FILE PHOTO

PARIS — The executive director of Brazil’s anti-doping authority says the 2014 World Cup host won’t be able to handle the drug-testing program for FIFA’s competition alone and is looking overseas for help.

Marco Aurelio Klein said a new Brazilian drug-testing lab won’t be ready in time for football’s showcase event from June 12-July 13.

Last month, the World Anti-Doping Agency revoked the accreditation of Brazil’s existing lab in Rio de Janeiro, citing “repeated failures.” WADA said the lab would no longer be authorized to test samples for WADA or any other testing authority.

In an interview, Klein called the decision a “disaster.”

With that lab suspended and the new lab not finished, Klein said Brazil now is proposing that accredited labs elsewhere set up branches in the country to oversee the testing of World Cup blood and urine samples.