MOSCOW, July 27 (Xinhua) -- 2014 Winter Olympics host city of Sochi has started building its anti-doping laboratory, Russian construction firm Olympstroi said Friday.

"Express tests on the prohibited drugs will be held (in the lab) to fight doping and provide equal opportunities for all athletes," the Olympstroi said in a statement.

The 5-storey building is being constructed in a close proximity to the sports venues, the building will house drug-testing premises along with public spaces and offices for the International Olympic Committee and World Anti-doping Agency.

The laboratory is scheduled to start working this year.

The opening ceremony of the Sochi Winter Olympics is Feb. 7, 2014 and the games will run until Feb. 23. The Sochi games will feature 98 medal events, which is 12 more than that of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada. Enditem