WADA announces that the Mexico City Laboratory has ceased operations

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) announces that the Laboratorio Nacional de Prevencion y Control del Dopaje-CONADE – the WADA-accredited Laboratory in Mexico City, Mexico (the Laboratory) – has ceased operations; and therefore, is no longer conducting anti-doping analyses as a WADA-accredited Laboratory.

While the Laboratory ceased its operations effective 15 November 2019, this official WADA announcement follows weeks of sustained efforts by the Agency to inform the Mexican Public Authorities of the benefits of maintaining an accredited Laboratory in Mexico.

WADA is satisfied that, in accordance with the International Standard for Laboratories (ISL), the Laboratory took all necessary measures to notify its clients of its decision to cease operations and assist all relevant Testing Authorities with the transfer of samples, where required, to another WADA-accredited Laboratory. Throughout, WADA monitored the measures taken by the Laboratory in regard to the above ISL requirements in order to ensure continued high-quality sample analysis and storage of samples, and to preserve athletes’ confidence in this process and the wider anti-doping system.

In accordance with the ISL, WADA is responsible for accrediting and re-accrediting anti-doping Laboratories, thereby ensuring that they maintain the highest quality standards. This monitoring process is conducted in compliance with ISO 17025 Standard assessment and in conjunction with independent national accreditation bodies that are full members of the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC).