Wits University is preparing to open the Brian and Dorothy Zylstra Sports Complex, a R300 million facility designed to advance sports science, sports medicine, research and community health in South Africa.

Scheduled to open on 1 September, the complex will house a wide range of services, including an anti-doping testing laboratory, four gyms, six research laboratories, a heated indoor Olympic-sized swimming pool and comprehensive medical facilities.

The project comes at an important time following the loss of World Anti-Doping Agency accreditation by South Africa’s previous drug-testing laboratory in Bloemfontein.

According to Prof Georgia Torres, chief operating officer of the complex and head of Wits’ Department of Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, the facility is intended to bring together experts from multiple disciplines under one roof.

Cardiovascular specialists, orthopaedic practitioners, physiotherapists, biokineticists and sports scientists will work collaboratively to improve both athletic performance and overall health outcomes.

The centre will also feature advanced AI-enabled gym equipment capable of tracking user performance metrics while contributing anonymised data for research purposes.

Specialised facilities include a flume pool that allows swimmers to remain stationary while undergoing physiological testing such as VO2 max and blood lactate assessments.Accessibility features, including hoists for people with disabilities, have also been incorporated.

Prof Jon Patricios, director of Wits Sport and Health, said the complex will support academic training, research and healthcare delivery while reinforcing the role of exercise in preventing and managing illness.The university also hopes the centre will strengthen its competitive sporting programmes.

Swimming South Africa high-performance head Dean Price will oversee swimming operations, while Paralympic champion Tadhg Slattery will lead disability swimming initiatives.The facility is expected to serve both elite athletes and the wider Johannesburg community, including Soweto residents.