Cuba's Anti-Doping Laboratory keeps worldwide prestige

HAVANA, Cuba, Nov 25 (acn) With more than 3,300 international samples made so far this year and a sustained fight against doping, Cuba's Anti-Doping Laboratory maintains its prestige worldwide.
Founded in 2001 in this city, this center is characterized by its good results, thanks to the careful work of well trained professionals.

Rodney Montes de Oca, director of the entity, told the press that they have the strength of the human resources that are formed in Cuba, which has allowed us to remain accredited since 2003, he said.
He added that in 2016 they already passed the five World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) exams, including the three thousand international samples required at least every year, so we were accredited to open doors on January 1, 2017.
Among the achievements of that institution, he mentioned the work commitments they have with several nations, including Ecuador and Peru, with their Soccer Federations, in addition to the national anti-doping program in Costa Rica, Guatemala and Nicaragua.
He also pointed out that they are collaborating with the Central American Anti-Doping Organization, which includes six countries, and generates a significant currency income for Cuba.
There are currently 29 anti-doping labs in the world, including the Cuban one which in 2015 reached a record for this center of 3,500 international samples.
More than 300 000 samples were collected last year in the world with a result of 3,800 positive for doping substances.
Montes de Oca said that seven out of these positive cases were of Cubans, although so far this year only three cases have been registered; and he insisted that the anti-doping fight is won from the educational point of view, avoiding athletes to take drugs.