Doha: Qatar which has emerged as one of the top sporting hubs, added yet another feature to its surging infrastructure facilities with the inauguration of the Anti-Doping Laboratory Qatar (ADLQ).
The Heir Apparent, H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani inaugurated the state-of-the-art facility at Aspire Zone, in the presence of ace rally driver and Olympic bronze medal winner in shooting, Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah, and 2012 London Games bronze medallist in high jump, Mutaz Essa Barshim.
Qatar Olympic Committee General-Secretary Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, who was present for the inauguration, said the anti-doping laboratory is another red letter day for Qatar.
“Today, we are celebrating another addition to the sports facilities. Every day we will see improvements in the sports facilities in Qatar, which puts the country on par with some of the leaders in the sporting world,” said Sheikh Saoud, while addressing the gathering. ADLQ will strive to make drug education part of health education, lay down norms regulating the use of technology in sport and provide accurate and current information to athletes.
“We seek to raise awareness, to help our athletes think critically, and make the wise choice of avoiding doping in any form,” said Sheikh Saoud. Dr Robin Olivier, Science Director at Wada, said the inauguration of the lab is a significant achievement for Qatar in the field of sport and science.
33 labs around the world are dedicated to the analysis of sports doping control tests. Labs that wish to perform analysis of doping controls for sports under the World Anti-Doping Code must achieve and maintain WADA accreditation. The Peninsula
“In our modern world, credible sport goes hand-in-hand with a strong anti-doping programme. Qatar clearly has a vision for hosting world-class sports events, and the same vision was apparent when it approached the WADA for the first time in 2007 to discuss the possible establishment of an anti-doping laboratory in Doha. I was part of the first meeting in February 2008 and I am glad to say that from the onset I have been impressed by the determination of the people supporting this project. We were convinced right away that Qatar had considered all the requirements and the scientific needs related to the establishment of an anti-doping laboratory, understanding clearly the challenges such an endeavour represented,” said the WADA official.
ADLQ, which endeavours to eliminate drug use in all sports and uphold the Olympic ideals of fair play and sportsmanship, is aiming to get the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) accreditation by the end of 2014, joining an elite group of labs that have won WADA’s endorsement so far.
“Today we are coming together to celebrate the opening of the laboratory, which merely represents the completion of the first part of the process, but a very significant one. We are confident that with all the national and international talent and support surrounding this project, we can look ahead with confidence over the coming months for the laboratory to progress smoothly and efficiently through WADA’s probationary phase on the way to achieving the ultimate goal of passing the final accreditation test,” Olivier said.
Equipped with cutting-edge technology and a specialist team, ADLQ will provide testing for all known forms of doping including testosterone, amphetamines, blood doping (reinfusion), anabolic steroids, EPO, HGH, beta blockers and even the newest form of doping - genetic doping and will provide for anti-doping testing for athletes across the Gulf region as well as West Asia. Doping control tests will be administered during competition, training and even in the off-season on athletes and tested at the laboratory located at Aspire Zone.
The facility will also conduct ongoing research into the use of prohibited substances, test-development, and other issues involved with drug use in sports.
