Source: www.insidethegames.biz
By Duncan Mackay
A Turkish doping control centre at the centre of controversy after it conducted a test on American basketball star Diana Taurasi (pictured) which it claimed was positive only for it later emerge they had made a mistake has had its accreditation suspended by World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
WADA announced today that the Turkish Doping Control Centre (TDCC), based at Hacettepe University in Ankara, has been banned from carrying out any WADA-related anti-doping activities indefinitely, effective immiediately.
The laboratory had claimed last December that a urine sample provicded by Taurasi, a member of the United States teams that won Olympic gold medals in 2004 and 2008, showed traces of the banned substance modafinil.
The results led to Taurasi being sacked by her club Fenerbahçe.
The laboratory later admitted that they had made a mistake and Taurasi was exonerated, agreeing to return to Turkey to play for Fenerbahçe's biggest rivals, Galatasaray.
"Pursuant to the International Standard for Laboratories (ISL), WADA is responsible for accrediting and re-accrediting anti-doping laboratories, thereby ensuring that they maintain the highest quality standards," WADA said in a statement.
"This monitoring is conducted in conjunction with ISO assessment by independent national accreditation bodies that are full members of the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC).
"Whenever a laboratory does not meet ISL requirements, WADA may suspend the laboratory's accreditation.
"WADA will re-evaluate the status of the laboratory in the course of the suspension period."
Contact the writer of this story at duncan.mackay@insidethegames.biz