THE London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) has today (November 30) announced that GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) will be its Official Laboratory Services Provider in a Tier Three deal.
GSK will provide facilities and equipment to enable Kings College London to operate a World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) accredited satellite laboratory at Games-time.
There will be thousands of samples analysed throughout the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games and the laboratory will be in operation 24 hours a day throughout the Games. The facility will be based at one of GSK's research and development sites in the UK offering the capacity for King's College to independently run the laboratory, working with the International Olympic Committee and International Paralympic Committee during London 2012.
London 2012 Chairman Sebastian Coe commented: "Doping control is a requirement of any Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. We have taken a partnership approach to delivering it for London 2012 and I'm thrilled that GlaxoSmithKline is on board. Its involvement, working with the King's College experts will see world class facilities available for an independently run anti-doping operation throughout the Games."
"The Olympic Games and Paralympic Games provide GSK with a huge opportunity to be part of the delivery of an outstanding world event," said Andrew Witty, CEO of GlaxoSmithKline. "I'm delighted we've put this alliance with King's College London together to ensure that excellent science can play a key role in ensuring the Games are conducted to the highest ethical standards and that athletes can lead healthier lives.
"The Olympic and Paralympic ideals of people striving to achieve their best are core to those of GSK, as we share those values of excellence. There is great alignment in these missions and I look forward to our people making a significant contribution to the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games."
One of the UK's leading universities, King's College London's Drug Control Centre has a track record in anti-doping control, analysing samples collected from athletes competing in major sporting events and training.
Working with UK sport to implement the UK's anti-doping policy in sport, the centre carried out more than 8000 tests across 70 sports last year. The centre, led by Director, Professor David Cowan, is well respected internationally and has a proven record of successfully delivering analysis services for major games. It was the first human sports drug-testing laboratory established outside of an Olympic Games.
"I am delighted that GlaxoSmithKline has chosen to make this important contribution to our ongoing work at King's College London to help deter drug cheats from coming to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games," said Professor Cowan, Director of King's College's Drug Control Centre. "With this significant partner we have the capacity to be able to help protect the health of the athlete and the integrity of the Games."
GSK begins work immediately.
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