Watch FIFA World Cup 2026™

LIVE, FREE and EXCLUSIVE

Doping - WADA reinstates Madrid anti-doping laboratory

MONTREAL (Reuters) - Madrid's Anti-Doping Laboratory was reinstated by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) on Friday, more than a year after it was suspended.

Doping - WADA reinstates Madrid anti-doping laboratory
(Reuters)

The suspension, which followed WADA's declaration last March that the Spanish Anti-Doping Agency (AEPSAD) was non-compliant, prohibited the lab from carrying out any WADA-related anti-doping activities.

AEPSAD, which had missed a deadline for required changes to its drug-testing procedures, was removed from the non-compliant list early last month and an inspection of the Madrid lab followed on March 23-24.

"We would like to thank the laboratory for their continued cooperation throughout this process," WADA Director General Olivier Niggli said in a statement.

"Given the specific circumstances of their suspension, WADA is confident that the laboratory will continue to operate to the high standards required."

News that makes sense

Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

The suspensions led to a dramatic drop in testing in the top two Spanish soccer leagues, with no samples at all taken from players in the second division for a year after AEPSAD's suspension.

WADA said in February the lack of testing was "alarming" with AEPSAD blaming FIFA and UEFA for not taking over drug testing in football while it was ruled non-compliant.

(Reporting Nick Mulvenney in Sydney; editing by Amlan Chakraborty)


1 min read

Published

Source: Reuters



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News straight to your inbox

Sign up now for daily news from Australia and around the world. You can also subscribe to Insight's weekly newsletter for in-depth features and first-person stories.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Follow SBS News

Download our apps

Listen to our podcasts

Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service

Stream now

Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world