Wada eyes Moscow laboratory

THE World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) has said it is “another step closer” to gaining full access to the former Moscow anti-doping laboratory.
A team of five experts has been sent to Russia to retrieve the data.
Wada lifted a three-year ban on Russia’s anti-doping agency, Rusada, in September, which followed a major scandal over state-sponsored doping.
Access to the Moscow laboratory data and samples before the end of 2018 was a condition of Russia’s reinstatement.
“The raw data is the missing piece of the puzzle,” said Wada director-general Olivier Niggli.
He added the data would “complement” the duplicate Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) database that Wada acquired last year, and “help conclude” its investigations into alleged state-backed doping by Russia.
After the data has been reviewed, Russian authorities must retest any samples required by Wada before 30 June 2019.
Wada said the data would then be used alongside any re-analysed samples to “build cases against athletes who cheated.”