Soccer

Embarrassment for Brazil World Cup over drug-test decision

Fifa confirms laboratory in Rio de Janeiro will not regain accreditation by tournament

A boy kicks a ball in the Mangueira favela close to the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, earlier this month. Photograph: Buda Mendes/Getty Images
Wed Nov 13 2013 - 12:39

Hundreds of blood and urine samples taken from players in drug tests during the World Cup finals in Brazil next year will be flown thousands of miles to Switzerland for analysis.

Fifa has confirmed that the laboratory in Rio de Janeiro will not be able to regain its accreditation – which was revoked earlier this year – and that the samples will instead be sent to Lausanne.

The total is likely to be several hundred samples – 576 were taken before and during the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. The move has been prompted by the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (Wada) decision to revoke the accreditation of the Ladetec laboratory in Rio de Janeiro and is another embarrassment for Brazil’s World Cup organisers who are already facing missing Fifa deadlines over the delivery of stadiums.

Another laboratory is being purpose-built for the Rio 2016 Olympics but it will not be ready in time for next year.

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A Fifa statement said: “After thorough consideration and discussion with Wada and the Brazilian authorities, Fifa has decided to use the Wada accredited laboratory in Lausanne, Switzerland, to analyse blood and urine samples on the occasion of the upcoming 2014 Fifa World Cup in Brazil.”