Two laboratory analysts of the South African Doping Control Laboratory (SADoCoL), housed at the University of the Free State (UFS), will contribute to the success of the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris, France. Elandré Williams and Betsie Human have been chosen to be part of the anti-doping Paris laboratory team at both the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The global games will take place from 26 July to 11 August, and from 28 August to 8 September, respectively. Williams will be involved in steroid profile analysis, dealing with sample preparation, analysis and data processing by gas chromatography (GC), and isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS). This is her first international sporting event.
Human boasts experience serving as a junior analyst at SADoCoL during the 2010 Soccer World Cup in South Africa. She will also be involved with sample preparation, analysis, and data processing.
Both have expressed great appreciation in being granted this once-in-a-life-time opportunity of serving at the world games, and to acquire valuable knowledge, too.
“I am excited, optimistic, and privileged to have been given this opportunity, but I am also quite nervous as this is most probably the biggest sporting event of the year. Being a part of the fight against doping in sport remains a great responsibility as what we do directly impacts the athletes. This is a great opportunity for growth, both individually and in my field of expertise in the scientific and the doping control field,” said Williams.
“I was a junior analyst at SADoCoL during the 2010 soccer World Cup, but you cannot compare a single-sport discipline with a multisport discipline like the Olympic Games – the Games will be exponentially bigger,” Human added.
Human said she was looking forward to seeing how the workflow and logistics associated with the Games (massive amounts of samples, tight deadlines, etc.) is managed in a high throughput laboratory.
“In the past 14 years, doping control as a whole has grown significantly. New technologies, updated requirements, more sensitive testing methods have emerged – this will be a new experience.”
“I am, of course, also looking forward to meeting analysts from other labs – we are a bit secluded in the southern tip of Africa. Collaboration between labs is tricky when your closest neighbour is in Europe,” said Human.
Hanno du Preez, director of SADoCoL, said the laboratory personnel were immensely proud having two of their staff members participate in this year’s Olympics, which for many scientists is the peak of their career.
