Doping: WADA has safety problems with test bottles

Montreal (SID) The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has a major problem storing doping samples shortly before the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang. The containers approved by WADA can be opened and closed again by unauthorized persons without leaving any traces. The ARD doping editorial team reports this in their latest documentary, which will be broadcast on Monday evening (from 22.45 p.m./ARD). WADA said that safety bottles from the Swiss company Berlinger in which the samples are stored can still be opened by hand after freezing. No further information was provided. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) remained calm. “We are confident that WADA will fully address all issues,” a spokesman said in response to an SID query. In response to SID's request, the Cologne control laboratory confirmed the existence of the problem. "In daily routine analysis, doping control vessels are checked for intactness and integrity upon delivery to the laboratory, which has been intensified even further, not least due to the findings in the aftermath of Sochi. If any irregularities are discovered here, we are required to inform the clients, such as the professional associations or to send notifications of abnormalities to NADA and WADA," said laboratory manager Mario Thevis to the SID: "Certain abnormalities were recently identified and communicated accordingly. Further information on the nature of the problem cannot be given at the moment as it is ongoing investigations." NADA boss Andrea Gotzmann told the SID that there had been "individual reductions in quality", but emphasized: "So far, our quality management measures have not put any tests at risk and we guarantee that they will be carried out properly." However, “very clear instructions must now be given as to how the procedure is 100 percent safe”. The Cologne laboratory had already alerted WADA on January 19th. The bottles are considered state-of-the-art and were introduced in September 2017 in light of the Russian doping scandal. They were scheduled to be used at the games in South Korea (February 9-25). This is already the second further developed variant after the Russian doping scandal at the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi. At that time, the hosts, with the help of the secret service, opened the containers, exchanged the positive samples and closed them again. If this procedure were to be possible again, the integrity of the entire anti-doping system would be called into question. In response to the tip-off, WADA asked the manufacturer to respond immediately and to inspect the product used, known as BEREG-KIT Geneva, in detail. According to WADA, Berlinger announced on January 27th that they had not been able to understand the problem as described. WADA sees a need for further clarification as it considers the situation to be worrying. These tests are still ongoing.

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Doping: WADA has safety problems with test bottles

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