Last week's decision, made by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), means the facility is prohibited from carrying out all anti-doping analyses on urine and blood samples.

Procedural errors were blamed, with the decision raising the possibility that samples collected during Rio 2016 will have to be shipped off and tested and analysed elsewhere at a cost of as much as $250,000 (£182,000/€224,000).

The ABCD claim that the decision to replace Klein with Sampaio is unconnected to this decision, and was due to Government personnel changes following the impeachment proceedings against former President Dilma Rousseff.

It appears unlikely the decision is completely unconnected, however, with Sampaio now set to play a vital role in dealing with WADA officials ahead of a visit next week.

Sampaio is a former judo star whose career was highlighted by Barcelona 1992 Olympic under 65 kilograms gold before he retired from the sport in 1998.

He has since worked in the sports industry, but has no specific experience in anti-doping.

"I know it's a delicate moment, but to contribute to the Brazilian sport in this major moment in the history of the Games is a great honour," he told Globo.

"The re-accreditation is the great challenge to have the lab working optimally and confidently. 

"It is in this line that we will work together with the Ministry and the COB (Brazil Olympic Committee)."

It is thought that the specific reason for the suspension of the RIo Laboratory related to the "misinterpretation" of test results and the production of false positives.

The facility has encountered numerous problems in the past after it had its accreditation revoked in 2013 as it failed a "blind" quality assessment test.

In 2012, it was suspended from conducting isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) testing on samples for several months before being reinstated.

If it is not re-accredited in time, laboratories in Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, Havana, Bogota and Mexico City will be considered for use during Rio 2016.