The management of the University of the Free State (UFS) is aware of the suspension of the South African Doping Control Laboratory (SADoCoL) by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) for a period of up to six months, starting on 1 March 2024.

The decision by WADA follows a proposal by the WADA Lab Expert Advisory Group (WADA LabEAG) that a six-month suspension be applied to the laboratory’s WADA accreditation based on technical changes required by WADA, which the laboratory must have in place within the suspension period.

During this suspension period, the laboratory will continue its ISO17025-accredited analysis, but all samples received under the authority of WADA will be referred to another WADA-accredited laboratory. All processes are already in place to support the changes required by WADA.

The university management is confident that the laboratory will effectively address the corrective actions required by WADA within the suspension period, so that the laboratory can again be of service to the anti-doping stakeholders in Southern Africa once the laboratory’s accreditation is reinstated.

The South African Doping Control Laboratory (SADoCoL) is a World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)-accredited laboratory, situated on the UFS Bloemfontein Campus. The laboratory is tasked with the analysis of athlete samples for the detection of prohibited substances in organised sport. SADoCoL is a continental asset, as well as an ISO17025-accredited laboratory. 

Issued by:

Lacea Loader

Senior Director: Communication and Marketing

University of the Free State

Bloemfontein, South Africa  

loaderl@ufs.ac.za | +27 83 645 2454