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Brazil ‘halted drugs tests ahead of Rio Games’

The World Anti-Doping Agency has labelled Brazil’s decision to stop testing its Olympic team in the build-up to Rio 2016 as “unacceptable”.

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Wada also lifted the provisional suspension slapped on Kenya’s anti-doping agency.

“The explanation came was unsatisfactory as they said due to change in guard in the ministry and the agency, it wasn’t done”.

“The Ministry of Sport and the Brazilian Doping Control Authority strongly refute the accusations made by Mr Horta”, it said. That was not a good move – the fact no testing was happening was a concern’.

Kenya had failed twice to meet Wada’s requests for anti-doping mechanism to be put in place with the anti-doping watchdog threatening to ban Kenya from the Rio Olympics.

Luis Horta, the former head of Portugal’s anti-doping agency who was given a role as an adviser to Brazil, alleged he faced pressure from the country’s sports ministry and Olympic committee to reduce testing.

Kenya have remained plagued by doping controversies in recent months, with a joint report by The Sunday Times and German broadcaster ARD, last month, alleging that a number of Kenyan and British athletes used erythropoietin (EPO) at a training camp in Iten. Find us on Facebook too!

“The anti-doping agency’s primary objective was for many medals and all of them clean, and that’s what’s supported by the majority of Brazilians”.

‘There was no political decision of interrupting the tests in any way, ‘ said a statement from the Brazilian Sports Ministry to The Times.

Wada declared Kenya complaint on Thursday night and the news came as a huge boost for Team Kenya since it was under scrutiny at the Rio Games, which officially started yesterday after the opening ceremony.

The WADA have announced that the adopted anti-doping legislation is now in line with the Code, with Foundation Board members voting to remove Kenya from the non-compliant list.

“As it relates to testing in Spain during non-compliance, an agreement is being reached for testing to be carried out by International Sport Federations”.

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The lead up to the games has been littered with controversy and calamity.

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