Rio Olympics Anti-Doping Lab Suspended by WADA: Details and Reaction

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) suspended the 2016 Summer Olympics' drug testing lab in Rio de Janeiro after discovering technical errors. 

Caleb Harris of Stuff.co.nz initially reported the news, which was confirmed Friday through a report by ESPN.com's Bonnie Ford, who cited WADA spokesman Ben Nichols as the source of information.

An official release came from WADA on the matter, featuring comments from incoming director general Olivier Niggli:

"

The Agency will ensure that, for the time being, samples that would have been intended for the Laboratory, will be transported securely, promptly and with a demonstrable chain of custody to another WADA-accredited laboratory worldwide. This will ensure that there are no gaps in the anti-doping sample analysis procedures; and that, the integrity of the samples is fully maintained.

Athletes can have confidence that the suspension will only be lifted by WADA when the Laboratory is operating optimally; and that, the best solution will be put in place to ensure that sample analysis for the Rio Olympic and Paralympic Games is robust.

"

The Olympics are slated for an Aug. 5 start, but departing WADA director general David Howman doesn't believe the errors will be resolved by then, per Harris.

Howman referred to the doping culture among athletes and hinted at how hard it is to combat the issue, given his agency's modest annual budget of $30 million.

"We see in our surveys people saying, 'I don't mind if I'm dead by 30, I want a gold medal and I'll do anything to get it,'" said Howman, per Harris. Howman added, "We are David fighting Goliath, but does that mean we don't fight? Of course not, we give it a crack."

Howman also referred to the doping scandal that surfaced in Russia last year in which WADA called for a ban on the country's athletics.

"Russia stands alone at the moment in terms of being a doping factory," Howman said, per Harris. "It's a state-sponsored doping program and the extent of that, hopefully, we will find out in the next three weeks."

WADA announced in November 2015 that Russia was one of six countries whose anti-doping agencies were banned for non-compliance. The Russian cities of Kazan and Cheboksary were stripped of the right to host 2016 IAAF championship events.

It appears problems with the Rio Olympics lab threaten to taint the Summer Games further. Although Niggli's statement represents an optimistic stance, there is little time to spare before competitions begin.