The London 2012 Olympics Ant-Doping Laboratory on Monday received the seal of approval from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
“With the approval, the London 2012 Anti-Doping Laboratory will be able to operate and attain the highest standards of sample analysis during the Olympic Games and Paralympics Games in London,’’ WADA President John Fahey said in a statement.
The Olympic Games is to hold from July 27 to Aug. 12 while the Paralympic Games is scheduled for Aug. 29 to Sept. 9.
“Doping athletes must know that there is a very good chance they will be tested this summer,’’ the Europe Correspondent of NAN quotes Fahey as saying further.
He assured that the laboratory would live up to its billing as WADA had ensured it was the best available to help in curtailing cheating in sports through doping.
?“Everything scientifically possible with the assistance of growing intelligence will be done to make sure that their (athletes) efforts to cheat are detected by the experts at the laboratory,” Fahey said.
In his reaction, Jonathan Harris, LOCOG Head of Anti-Doping, described WADA accreditation as a green light signal that the laboratory is ready for the games.
“The successful partnership between LOCOG, GlaxoSmithKiline (GSK), the providers of the laboratory, and King’s College London, the operators, has enabled us to present to WADA a brilliant laboratory on time for the Games,’’ Harris said.
NAN gathered that WADA accreditation process, which spanned a two-year period, was based on two International Standards for Laboratories.
These standards required the laboratory to undergo a series of rigorous tests to establish its analysis credentials.
The process also involved several site visits from WADA’s Science Department and the “ISO/IEC’’ accrediting body prior to the granting of accreditation.
Assessments were also focused on the facility, equipment, procedures and staffing during three formal inspections and dummy sample testing.
More than 6,250 samples are being expected to be analysed throughout the Olympic and Paralympics Games. (NAN)