25/05/2011 12:00 AM Anti-Doping Laboratory and Aspetar host symposium (Doha, May 25, 2011) The Anti-Doping Laboratory, in conjunction with Aspetar Qatar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, today began a two-day scientific symposium entitled "The Advancement of Science in the Fight Against Doping."The symposium, which concludes tomorrow (Thursday), is being addressed by leading scientists and researchers from Asia, Europe and South America. Topics on the agenda include gene doping, endogenous steroids, EPO, therapeutic drugs in sport, and anti-doping testing at a big sporting event, using the Athens Olympics as an example. Those attending have also been able to take a "virtual reality" tour of the new Anti-Doping Laboratory which will open early next year, and will be sited within the Aspire Zone. Dr. Mohammed Ghanem Al Maad’heed, Project Director of the Anti-Doping Laboratory, said: "The establishment of the Middle East's first anti-doping laboratory was, to begin with, just a dream. But, once sport in the region, and in Qatar in particular, started to evolve, and a number of world championships began to take place here, then it became necessary to place checks on doping in the region, and to ensure quick access to the results and analysis in the best possible circumstances. " Dr Al Maad’heed confirmed that next year the laboratory will join the 35 existing World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)-approved anti-doping laboratories around the world. "We know that the road ahead is difficult and long," he said, "but the Executive Committee which supervises the laboratory is highly competent and will ensure the greatest accuracy in its testings." Dr. Mohamed Al Sayrafi, Project Executive Director of the Anti-Doping Laboratory, said that the intention of establishing such a laboratory in Qatar was not only to eliminate the use of drugs in sport but also to protect the health of athletes in general. Dr Al Sayrafi also stressed the strategic cooperation between this laboratory, Qatar Olympic Committee, the Qatari Committee for Anti-Doping, Aspetar and WADA.