October 11, 2011 (London, UK) – Hoping to stay one step ahead of cheating athletes the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and London 2012 partner, pharmaceutical giant Glaxo Smith Kline (GSK), signed a historic deal this summer that should help authorities in their battle against doping.
The deal means that GSK has allowed WADA access to its confidential research data on drugs that could enhance performance. In some cases this research will be available before some new drugs hit the market, and allowing WADA valuable lead time to develop tests for these new drugs.
The partnership builds on GSK’s role as the Official Laboratory Services provider for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and according to Sky News authorities will now be able to stay one step ahead of cheaters, or at least stay parallel with them, suggests Nicole Sapstead, the director of operations at UK Anti-Doping (UKAD).
The impetus for much of this effort is an attempt to make things more difficult for cheaters before the opening ceremonies of the 27 July–12 August 2012 London Olympics. The associated Paralympic Games will take place from August 29–September 9.