WADA puts provisional ban on Russian doping lab

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa- The World Anti-Doping Agency has put the Olympic drug-testing laboratory in Russia under provisional suspension, saying it must improve its operations or a six-month ban on its accreditation will be imposed.

WADA announced the possible suspension of the Moscow Antidoping Center on Sunday, just three months out from the start of the Winter Olympics in Sochi.

In its statement, WADA said the suspension will be enacted unless the Center demonstrates by Dec. 1 that it is preparing a quality management program to increase confidence in its operations, and that by April 1 of 2014 the improved program is been finalized.

WADA “strongly suggests” the IOC consider action to “ensure the complete integrity of analysis” at the Moscow Laboratory in Moscow and the satellite facility at the Sochi Games.