The World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) formally suspended the accreditation of the SA Doping Control Laboratory in Bloemfontein – the only such facility in Africa – citing “multiple non-conformities with the International Standard for Laboratories”.
The suspension on 1 March was on the recommendation of the Laboratory Expert Advisory Group (Lab EAG), which monitors Wada’s accredited laboratories globally, and linked to the Bloemfontein lab’s ability to detect substances not naturally produced by the body to enhance performance. This specifically relates to the “Gas Chromatography/Combustion/Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (GC/C/IRMS) analytical method”.
Daily Maverick reports that this is a critical tool in the fight against doping in sport as it provides precise and reliable results.
GC/C/IRMS can detect these substances by analysing their isotopic signatures. For example, synthetic testosterone often has a different carbon isotope ratio compared with naturally produced testosterone in the body.
It separates and analyses compounds in samples such as urine.
While some substances, like anabolic steroids, can be produced naturally in the body, they are also available in synthetic forms, and GC/C/IRMS can help differentiate between naturally occurring and synthetic forms by scrutinising their isotopic compositions.
The isotopic ratios serve as a “fingerprint” that can conclusively identify the source of the detected substance.
Practical implications
The SA Institute for Drug-Free Sport (Saids) said potential dopers “should not celebrate”, as testing for banned substances under Saids’ mandate will continue as before. Saids operates independently of the Free State lab.
Samples, though, will have to be taken elsewhere for analyses, adding to the cost of testing.
“The suspension…prohibits it from carrying out any anti-doping activities,” Wada said in a statement.
“This includes analyses of urine and blood samples, with the exception of analysis related to the Athlete Biological Passport haematological module.
“During the suspension period, samples that have not yet been analysed, samples currently undergoing a confirmation procedure, and any samples for which an adverse analytical finding has been reported, must be securely transported to another Wada-accredited laboratory.
“The laboratory shall address all non-conformities identified by the Lab EAG or Wada in any request for corrective action or otherwise, as well as any additional non-conformities identified by any follow-up Wada site visit during the suspension period.
“If it satisfies the Lab EAG in meeting these requirements, it may apply for reinstatement prior to the expiry of the six-month suspension period.”
It added that if the lab did not address the non-conformities by the end of the six-month suspension period, Wada may extend the suspension for up to an additional six months.
Sample contingency
“The laboratory is an independent facility run and managed by the University of the Free State. When we got the warning, we made contingency plans,” Saids chief executive Khalid Galant said.
“This is not the first time we have faced this situation (the lab was suspended for several months in 2016) so we have elicited the services of the Wada laboratory in Qatar.
“…testing and analysis will continue. This also only relates to urine samples. Blood samples will continue to be analysed in Bloemfontein.”
The University of the Free State accepted the decision.
“During this suspension period, the laboratory will continue its ISO 17025-accredited analysis (including the Athlete Biological Passport haematological module), but all samples received under the authority of Wada will be referred to another Wada-accredited laboratory.
“… management is confident the laboratory will effectively address the corrective actions … so that it can again be of service to the anti-doping stakeholders once accreditation is reinstated.”
Cost and independence
The cost of running a Wada-approved laboratory is significant. There are only 31 accredited facilities in the world – and almost none run at a profit.
Most are funded by well-resourced Western, Middle Eastern and Asian universities, governments or hospitals – but do not run at a profit. Only the Salt Lake facility in the US makes money.
The University of the Free State is not in the same league as other global labs when it comes to funding, and the cost of keeping up with the latest demands is becoming prohibitive.
Although the Bloemfontein lab remains the only facility in Africa, if the Free State or national government do not provide enough funding to improve machinery and expertise, it might not reach compliance status again.
Athletes whose samples have returned adverse findings might also try to use this issue as proof that their tests were inaccurate.
At this stage there is no indication or evidence that samples out of Bloemfontein have in any way been mismanaged.
Saids, which is responsible for testing athletes at events, or out of competition, is not linked to the Bloemfontein laboratory at all. It sends most of its samples there but has used other labs in the world when necessary.
All samples waiting for analysis have been frozen for now and will be sent to Qatar in due course, adding a further layer of expense at Saids’ door.
The national doping body pays for every sample analysed at a lab. It’s obviously cheaper to have a sample taken in South Africa and sent to Bloemfontein than to send it to Qatar or Ghent, which might, in the future, affect the ability of Saids to do its work because it will require more government funding to carry it out effectively.
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