LOS ANGELES, June 20 (Xinhua) -- The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) announced Tuesday a three-month suspension of the UCLA Olympic Analytical Laboratory (UCLA Laboratory) for testing of specific prohibited substances.
The suspension of these analyses by the Los Angeles-based UCLA Laboratory began on June 14 and is a result of "WADA's quality assessment procedures that identified non-conformities with best practice," according to a WADA statement.
During the suspension, the UCLA Laboratory can continue carrying out all its regular anti-doping activities. "However, the Laboratory must obtain a second opinion from another WADA-accredited laboratory prior to reporting any Adverse Analytical Finding (AAF) for the glucocorticoids 'prednisolone' and 'prednisone', and the anabolic steroids 'boldenone' and 'boldione,'" the agency said.
Founded in 1982, the UCLA Laboratory is one of only two U.S. laboratories accredited by WADA. The facility operates on a 5-million-U.S. dollar annual budget. More than 40 scientists analyze approximately 45,000 urine specimens each year, according to the facility.
The UCLA lab began testing for the U.S. Olympic Committee in 1985 and then the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency in 2000. The facility has provided anti-doping testing for the 1984, 1996 and 2002 Olympic Games.
The lab also conducts test for the U.S. National Collegiate Athletic Association, U.S. National Football League, U.S. Minor League Baseball, and other major sporting events, such as 1994 World Cup.
According to WADA's announcement, this type of suspension allows for appropriate monitoring of the UCLA Laboratory to ensure "full implementation of necessary improvements with the objective of return to full compliance."
