Have you ever wondered where Olympic athletes go to get tested for doping? Right here, in front of you, stands Building 409, a seemingly unremarkable building on the campus of the University of Paris-Sud in Orsay, France. But this unassuming building is home to the French Anti-Doping Agency’s (AFLD) state-of-the-art laboratory. The AFLD chose this location in 2018 to ensure the testing of French athletes for the 2023 Rugby World Cup and the 2024 Paris Olympics and Paralympics. Building 409 was once occupied by the research teams of the Institute of Genetics and Microbiology, but they have now moved to a new building on the campus of Gif-sur-Yvette. The AFLD invested 11.6 million euros to renovate the building, providing space for 40 employees and a facility capable of analyzing 12,000 to 14,000 samples each year. The AFLD hopes to collaborate with the nearby science research and analysis facilities, putting Orsay at the forefront of fighting doping.
Église Notre-Dame de l’Air
Beneath what appears to be a simple stone and wood structure lies a history interwoven with faith aviation and community.