Turkish lab that accused Taurasi gets 6-month ban

The World Anti-Doping Agency has suspended accreditation of the laboratory that accused Diana Taurasi of using a banned substance then later retracted the positive test results. The Turkish Doping Control Center received a six-month ban Tuesday, meaning it will be ineligible to process WADA-sanctioned tests for that period. Last year, the lab said Taurasi had tested positive for the banned stimulant modafanil while playing professional basketball in Turkey. Several weeks later, the lab retracted the report and Taurasi was cleared of wrongdoing. The former UConn star is returning to the Phoenix Mercury of the WNBA, which begins play in June. She has also signed a contract to play again in Turkey later in the year and will be a strong candidate to make the U.S. roster for the London Olympics. In an interview last week, Taurasi said she was in the preliminary stages of taking legal action against the lab, which had also been suspended for three months in 2009.