The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has revoked the accreditation of the Moscow Anti-Doping Center, Russia's main sports drugs testing laboratory.
WADA posted the decision on its website on April 15, saying the laboratory was in "non-compliance" with international standards.
The Moscow center has been suspended since November 2015, when WADA issued a damning report charging that Russian athletes were routinely using banned substances with the assistance of official Russian organizations and the government.
The decision to revoke the center's accreditation was made following a "thorough review" of the allegations by an independent WADA panel.
Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko said the decision to revoke the accreditation will "facilitate its restoration." He added that a WADA delegation is expected to visit the laboratory beginning on April 18 to discuss the re-accreditation process.
Russia has been rocked by a spate of doping scandals, including the suspension of dozens of athletes who tested positive for meldonium, a substance that was banned as of January.
During a televised appearance on April 14, Russian President Vladimir Putin said the country should be prepared for the possibility it will not be able to participate in the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil.
