GlaxoSmithKline has opened the official London 2012 anti-doping laboratory to keep the Olympic and Paralympic Games drug-free.
The UK-based pharmaceutical company said the lab would be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and claims it will run the biggest anti-doping operation in the history of the Olympic Games.
Opening of the laboratory will take place on 16 July, which is the same day as the launch of GSK’s first UK advertising campaign to celebrate the role that anti-doping science will play at the Olympic Games.
The campaign will feature British Olympians and Paralympians and appear on television and outdoor advertising space across the UK, including GSK’s headquarters in Brentford, West London.
GSK senior vice president for global communications said: "Our contribution to the London 2012 Games, through our partnership with London Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games and King’s College London, is to help ensure that every medal winner can celebrate their athletic achievement in the knowledge they have won through a fair competition.
"Our advertising campaign aims to showcase the hard work, determination and natural ability that is central to each athlete’s performance."
Head of anti-doping at the Organising Committee Jonathan Harris added: "The fight against doping within sport continues. GSK have been instrumental in providing services to help us deliver the anti-doping programme for the games and with their help we have a state-of-the-art laboratory with the ability to process a record number of tests during the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Image: An anti-doping advertisment will appear across GSK’s headquarters in Brentford, West London. Photo: courtesy of GSK.
