The pharmaceutical company will provide facilities and equipment to enable King's College London to operate a World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) accredited satellite laboratory at Games-time.

 

Unlike Tier One sponsors, Tier Three partners normally provide goods and services rather than cash.

 

There will be thousands of samples analysed throughout the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games and the laboratory will be in operation 24 hours a day throughout the Games.

 

The facility will be based at one of GSK's research and development sites in the UK offering the capacity for King's College to independently run the laboratory, working with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and International Paralympic Committee (IPC) during London 2012.

 

Sebastian Coe, the chairman of London 2012 who has always been a keen advocate in the fight against drugs in sport, hailed the unique deal.

 

He said: "Doping control is a requirement of any Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.

 

"We have taken a partnership approach to delivering it for London 2012 and I'm thrilled that GlaxoSmithKline is on board.

 

"Its involvement, working with the King's College experts will see world class facilities available for an independently run anti-doping operation throughout the Games."

 

GSK, which was formed in 2000 by a merger of Glaxo Wellcome and SmithKline Beecham and is based in Brentford, is the 11th tier three sponsor of the Games.

 

Other third tier partners include Boston Consulting Group, Holiday Inn and McCann Worldgroup.

 

Top Tier sponsors include British Airways, British Telecom and Lloyds TSB, while Tier Two sponsors include Adecco, Cadbury, Cisco, Deloitte and UPS.

 

Andrew Witty, the chief executive of GlaxoSmithKline, said: "The Olympic Games and Paralympic Games provide GSK with a huge opportunity to be part of the delivery of an outstanding world event.

 

"I'm delighted we've put this alliance with King's College London together to ensure that excellent science can play a key role in ensuring the Games are conducted to the highest ethical standards and that athletes can lead healthier lives.

 

"The Olympic and Paralympic ideals of people striving to achieve their best are core to those of GSK, as we share those values of excellence.

 

"There is great alignment in these missions and I look forward to our people making a significant contribution to the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games."

 

One of the UK's leading universities, King's College London's Drug Control Centre has a track record in anti-doping control, analysing samples collected from athletes competing in major sporting events and training.

 

Working with UK sport to implement the UK's anti-doping policy in sport, the centre carried out more than 8,000 tests across 70 sports last year.

 

The centre, led by Director, Professor David Cowan, is well respected internationally and has a proven record of successfully delivering analysis services for major games.

 

It was the first human sports drug-testing laboratory established outside of an Olympic Games.

 

Cowan said: "I am delighted that GlaxoSmithKline has chosen to make this important contribution to our ongoing work at King's College London to help deter drug cheats from coming to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

 

"With this significant partner we have the capacity to be able to help protect the health of the athlete and the integrity of the Games."

 

GSK begins work immediately.

 

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