Brazil Strikes Deal With Swiss Authorities To Outsource World Cup Anti-Doping Process

Brazil "has struck a deal with Swiss authorities to outsource part of the anti-doping program at next year's FIFA World Cup," according to XINHUA. The Lausanne anti-doping laboratory "will analyze blood samples and create biological passports" -- an independent blood profile of tested athletes -- during the June 12-July 13 tournament. The Swiss laboratory "worked closely with the 2014 World Cup organizing committee during the Confederations Cup in June." It "is still unclear if the samples will be flown to Switzerland, or analyzed at a Brazilian laboratory" (XINHUA, 9/23). INSIDE WORLD FOOTBALL's David Owen wrote FIFA "is resigned to running up unexpected extra costs" to ensure that an effective drug testing program is in operation at next year's FIFA World Cup. FIFA medical committee Chair Michel D'Hooghe "acknowledged as much." D'Hooghe said the cost issue was one of the reasons FIFA was "not happy" (INSIDE WORLD FOOTBALL, 9/23).