Tamim bin Hamad patronizes anti-doping lab Qatar

HH the Heir Apparent Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani patronized the opening ceremony of the Anti-Doping Lab Qatar (ADLQ) in Aspire Zone on Monday. The ceremony was attended by President of the Gabonese Republic Ali-Ben Bongo Ondimba along with a number of their Excellencies Sheikhs, Ministers and Heads of sports federations in addition to a number of their Excellencies Heads of diplomatic missions accredited to Qatar and guests. The ceremony opened with recitation of verses from the Holy Q'uran and followed by a documentary film screening about the Anti-Doping Lab Qatar. HE the Secretary-General of the Qatar Olympic Committee Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said that the unlimited support of HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and HH the Heir Apparent Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to sports in Qatar is behind all the Qatari sports achievements at all levels. Sheikh Saud said that establishing Anti-Doping Lab Qatar (ADLQ) was a result of HH the Heir Apparent's belief in the significance of anti-doping. The Secretary-General of the Olympic Committee praised the efforts of Chairman of the Board of Trustees Mohammed Ghanem Al-Ali Al-Maadheed and  the Lab's Director-General Mohammed Mustaffa Al Sairafi as well as members of the board of trustees for their work on establishing the anti-doping lab. Sheikh Saud said that ADLQ was a reflection of Qatar's ambition and vision, adding that the lab was latest addition to Qatar's arsenal of sports-related facilities like Aspire Academy and Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital (Aspetar). Sheikh Saud also said that the Qatar National Vision 2030, launched by HH the Emir, and the Qatar National Development Strategy 2011-2016, launched by HH the Heir Apparent, was the inspiration behind the State's many achievement in all development fields whether in human, social, economic or environmental aspects. The Secretary-General promised that there will be more achievements in the future that will further cement Qatar's place on the international sports. The Secretary General of the Qatari Olympic Committee said that the new anti-doping lap will be a beacon of excellence in sports and medical research for the entire Middle-East and North Africa region. Sheikh Saud said that the lab has a range of the world's leading experts in the field, expressing his hope that all the staff will work hard in order for the lab to become the first certified anti-doping lab in the Middle-East. The QOC Secretary General expressed as well his confidence in the abilities of the lab's team to reach that achievement. For his part, Al-Maadheed said that he met with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) led by Science Director Olivier Rabin, after HH the Heir Apparent had charged him with carrying out the project. The Anti-Doping Lab Qatar facility will offer anti-doping testing and will conduct ongoing research into the use of prohibited substances, test-development, and other issues involved with drug use in sports. From : Qatar Olympic Committee