Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju on Monday urged the World Anti-Doping Agency to lift the suspension imposed on the National Dope Testing Labaratory, as the laboratory has taken "various corrective measures" prescribed by the global body. In July 2020, the WADA had extended the suspension of NDTL by six months quoting non-conformation to international standards. The world anti-doping watchdog WADA first suspended NDTL's accreditation in August last year for a period of six months.
During a webinar on "anti doping, nutritional and therapeutic requirement in sports", Minister Rijiju requested WADA chief Witold Banka, who attended the virtual conference, to allow NDTL, suspended till January next year, to resume dope analysis as soon as possible. "NDTL has taken various corrective measures prescribed by the WADA and we hope to resume dope analysis under the WADA guidelines," Rijiju said. Addressing the WADA chief, minister said, "I am eagerly looking forward to you and your team's visit to India as and when the COVID-19 pandemic situation improves".
"India stands firmly for fair and clean sports and integrity in sports. We are ready to offer contribution to WADA, NADOs (National Anti-Doping Organisations) and RADOs (Regional Anti-Doping Organisations) in strengthening anti-doping activities." Activities including all analyses of urine and blood samples were prohibited by the suspension. Currently, urine samples collected by the National Anti-Doping Agency are being sent primarily to the WADA-accredited lab in Doha.
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