By Duncan Mackay at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg

Ankara's anti-doping laboratory is to have its re-accreditation fast-trackedNovember 11 - Turkey's anti-doping laboratory in the capital Ankara is to have its re-accreditation process fast-tracked by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), it has been announced here today.


The news has been welcomed by Uğur Erdener, President of the National Olympic Committee of Turkey (NOCT), who is also a member of the WADA ruling Executive Board, which is due to meet here tomorrow at the World Conference on Doping in Sport.

The laboratory was stripped of its accreditation in June 2011 after a urine sample provided by Diana Taurasi, a member of the United States basketball teams that won Olympic gold medals in 2004 and 2008, allegedly showed traces of the banned substance modafinil.

The results led to Taurasi being sacked by her club Fenerbahçe.

But the laboratory later admitted that they had made a mistake and Taurasi was exonerated, reclaiming her place in the US team at London 2012, where she won her third consecutive Olympic gold medal.

American basketball star Diana Taurasi nearly had her career ruined by a false positive at the anti-doping laboratory in Ankara but had her ban lifted and won a third Olympic gold medal at London 2012 American Diana Taurasi nearly had her career ruined by a false positive at the Ankara anti-doping laboratory but had her ban lifted and won a third Olympic gold medal at London 2012

WADA had announced a year ago that Ankara would have its accreditation reinstated but it still has to be officially restored.

During this period Turkish sport has been hit by a spate of positive drugs tests which undermined Istanbul's bid to host the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics. 

Erdener, who is also head of World Archery, has promised to lead a clean-up of Turkey's doping problem and believes his cause will gain even greater momentum with the re-accreditation of the Ankara laboratory.

"Turkey's independent National Anti-Doping Agency has spearheaded an enhanced anti-doping programme over the last six to 12 months and now Turkey is succeeding in bringing its detection and sanctioning procedures more in to line with the top tier sports nations," he said.

"When WADA re-accredits the lab in Ankara, it will help us make those top-down procedures even more effective. We are judging ourselves by the highest standards of international best practice, against countries like the UK, USA and Canada.

"I am proud of the way the Turkish sports community has shown the collective strength to take the tough action when it needed to be taken this year."

National Olympic Committee of Turkey President Uğur Erdener is spearheading the drive to get the country's drugs problem under controlNational Olympic Committee of Turkey President Uğur Erdener is spearheading the drive to get the country's drugs problem under control

But Erdener warned that there could be more positive drugs tests in the future involving Turkish athletes as the country steps up its testing programme.

"We are determined to stamp out drugs in Turkish sport and we know that there is no gain without pain," he said.

"Government funding for our anti-doping programme is at record levels, we are conducting more tests than ever before, and we are sending a clear message to cheats and would-be cheats in Turkey: the net is closing in on you.

"Turkey has demonstrated its zero-tolerance policy on drugs in sport unequivocally this year through aggressive testing and sanctions.

"Now, our main focus must shift to prevention.

"We are planning to work very closely with the Ministry of Youth and Sports and National Federations to implement nationwide education programmes.

"Young athletes, parents and coaches must understand what they should and should not be putting in their bodies.

"We are giving them a better understanding of nutrition, training and recovery, and we are giving them the top quality facilities they need to make the most of their potential."

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November 2012: Ankara lab set to have WADA accreditation restored
June 2011: Turkish lab in Taurasi scandal is stripped of accreditation by WADA
May 2011: Turkish lab in Taurasi scandal banned by WADA