Sir Craig Reedie: “The Capacity in a Local Lab in Rio Is Essential”

IOC Vice President and WADA President Sir Craig Reedie has discussed the latest WADA meeting with Steve Wilson, chief Olympic correspondent and European sports editor at AP, exclusively on iSportconnect TV.

Hosted by iSportconnect Olympic Editor Michael Pirrie, the Olympic and World Sport Show (part one) focuses on the priorities of the World Anti-Doping Agency for the upcoming months and of course the Rio 2016 Summer Games.

Sir Craig Reedie spoke about the test laboratory that was re-accredited in Rio, and how he wants to create more of those facilities around South America:

“After much work, we have been able to re-accredit the laboratory in Rio. We also have a provisonal accreditation for an experimental phase for a loboratory in Chile, because South America needs more laboratories. So I think this a step in the right direction”

Steve Wilson agreed with the IOC Vice President and insisted on the considerable change the lab will make in Rio, especially when FIFA had to ship all samples back to Switzerland during the World Cup, due to the absence of such a facility in 2014:

“The doping Lab in Rio is a crucial development because had it not been re-accredited, we would have a situation like FIFA did for the World Cup with no lab in Brazil, at a great cost and great practical inconvenience.”

Sir Craig also commented on the difference between the Games in Rio and the FIFA World Cup in Brazil:

“FIFA can do it. They tested 800 samples in total. I don’t know how many we will test in Rio, but it’ll certainley be a lot more than 800. So the capacity in a local lab is essential”.

Watch part one of the show on iSportconnect TV. Part two will be available next week, with a clear focus on the SportAccord situation.

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