WADA accredits Helsinki dope lab

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has confirmed that the Helsinki Doping Control Laboratory operated by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) is accredited, i.e., found competent for anti-doping testing, said THL in a press release.

The laboratory can immediately begin its anti-doping analysing activities. About 4,000 anti-doping analyses are conducted annually in Finland.

Doping analytics complements THL’s legal toxicological expert activities, such as drug-related sample analytics.

“Finland has a long history of doping analytics. It has been done here since the 80’s, so it is great that expertise in this field remains in Finland,” said Tina Suominen, head of THL’s Helsinki Doping Control Laboratory.

Previously, the Finnish anti-doping analyses were carried out by Yhtyneet Medix Laboratoriot Oy, currently known as Synlab Suomi. The doping testing laboratory was transferred to THL at the beginning of 2020. During the transfer, all doping analytics activities were put on hold.

“The transfer of the laboratory went very well. It was an arduous process to transfer the laboratory to a different organisation and get it re-accredited during a pandemic,” said Suominen.

The Ministry of Education and Culture is responsible for promoting and supporting anti-doping activities in Finland and for intergovernmental anti-doping cooperation in accordance with international anti-doping conventions.

Minister of Science and Culture Annika Saarikko welcomed the WADA decision as very welcoming.

“I consider the preservation of doping testing laboratory activities in Finland to be important in terms of sports politics. Laboratory activities complement Finland’s strong anti-doping expertise, and this is also an important decision in terms of international competitions held in Finland,” said Saarikko.