San Jose, May 26 (RHC-PL), --  Cesar Sanchez, coordinator of National Anti-doping Commission in Costa Rica, stated Wednesday that thanks to an agreement signed by Costa Rica and Cuba, the official drug tests of Costa Rican athletes will take place in a Cuban laboratory.

Costa Rica's Sports and Recreation Institute and Icoder have donated around US $190,000 to strengthen the Commission's work. Sanchez said that the money would be also used to buy kits necessary to run urine tests.

According to the newspaper 'Extra', Sanchez said that the commission hoped to send more than 400 samples to the Cuban laboratory this year.

He also stated that the Commission's first goal was to train athletes so they would know the consequences of doping and the process of making an anti-doping test.

The National Anti-doping Commission, appointed by the National Sports Council, is responsible for planning, coordinating, implementing, monitoring and promoting improvements in doping control.

It also develops information, education and prevention programs and strongly prosecutes any substantial infraction. The Council cooperates fully with World Anti-doping Agency (WAA).