WADA suspends Moscow Antidoping Center

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) on Tuesday suspended the accreditation of the Moscow Antidoping Center with immediate effect following the recommendation of its Independent Commission.

The commission recommended suspension of Russia from all world athletics competition and examined allegations of doping, cover-ups, and extortion in Russian athletics. It also implicated the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) for failure to address these pressing issues.

"The suspension, which takes effect immediately, prohibits the Moscow Antidoping Center from carrying out any WADA-related anti-doping activities including all analyses of urine and blood samples," WADA said in its website.

"The Moscow Antidoping Center may appeal this decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) within 21 days of receipt of notice," it added.

"A Disciplinary Committee will therefore be formed shortly and will be required to review the case, on the basis of the Procedural Rules adopted by the WADA Executive Committee. This Disciplinary Committee will issue a recommendation with respect to the laboratory’s accreditation status."

In the meantime, all samples for the Moscow Antidoping Center will now be transported securely, promptly and with a demonstrable chain of custody to an alternative WADA-accredited laboratory.

WADA president Craig Reedie said: "WADA has acted swiftly to one of the key recommendations made by the Independent Commission in its Report. 

"The Moscow Laboratory is provisionally suspended, and the status of the laboratory’s accreditation beyond that will be decided by a Disciplinary Committee which will be formed shortly to review the case.”