WADA suspends Rio lab six weeks before Games

MONTREAL — The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) said Friday it has suspended the accreditation of its Brazilian doping control laboratory in Rio de Janeiro, just six weeks before the city hosts the Olympics. The suspension was imposed due to a non-conformity with the International Standard for Laboratories, according to WADA, which began the ban Thursday upon notifying the lab. The move prohibits the Rio lab from carrying out all anti-doping analyzes on urine and blood samples. Sailing on dirty water with scenic backdrop The sailing regatta at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics will be both filthy and photogenic. The troubled waters of Guanabara Bay have made news for the wrong reasons, with an independent study by the Associated Press showing high levels of viruses and sometimes bacteria from human sewage. There have also been unsightly buildups of trash. Sailors have tried to downplay the effects of sailing on the dirty water, saying they're taking precautions and that Rio isn't the only place on the planet with polluted waterways. Still, German sailor Erik Heil was hospitalized in Berlin and underwent surgery to treat inflammation and skin infections after competing in a test event in August. One big improvement so far is at the venue, the new Marina da Gloria, where the water is clearer just months after a new sewage system was installed to stop brown, untreated sludge from being poured into the small harbor. Dirty water aside, sailors rave about Rio as a good place to sail, both on the bay and on ocean courses. This will be one of the rare times sailors have competed in the center of the Olympic action. Rio's round natural features will provide a stunning backdrop. The medals races will be sailed off Flamengo Beach, with the windward mark right under Sugarloaf Mountain. — Agencies