Candidates for misconduct are warned: a page is turning in the fight against doping in sport. The new situation looks more credible. Good news, it will be ready for the next Winter Games, starting February 9, 2018 in PyeongChang.
Thomas Bach, the President of the IOC, announced it on Thursday October 12, via a press release: the new independent control authority (ACI), set up by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), is now a reality. She exists. Finally. In the process, the veil was lifted on the identity of its president: Valérie Fourneyron (photo above), the former French Minister of Sports.
The appointment of the Frenchwoman, former MP and mayor of Rouen, is not a surprise. Valérie Fourneyron had submitted a candidacy to chair the supervisory authority. She already headed the WADA medical committee. She also led the working group on the creation of the ACI.
A logical choice, therefore. Above all, a designation which gives hope that the new ACI will be able to respect its ambition of independence. Valérie Fourneyron is not directly linked to any of the institutions of the international sports movement. Unlike the other three members of this supervisory authority. The Turk Ugur Erdener combines the functions of president of the International Archery Federation and member of the IOC Executive Board. The Italian Francesco Ricci Bitti, former president of the International Tennis Federation, chairs the Association of International Summer Olympic Sports Federations (ASOIF). Finally, Zimbabwean Kirsty Coventry is a member of the IOC, as part of the Athletes' Commission. The last one called up, the Chinese Peilie Chen, was chosen as an independent member.
Thomas Bach swore on the Bible: “The IOC will be able to count on the services of the ACI at the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Games.” An Olympic event where Russia's participation is still not decided, less than 4 months from the opening.
Reaction from Valérie Fourneyron, quoted by AFP: “This new independent testing authority is good news for the fight against doping and the protection of clean athletes. It must make it possible to avoid a conflict of interest, real or perceived.”
Realistic? Hard to say. Certainly, the new authority will not be accountable to anyone. A priori, it will have no particular interest to defend. But its budget will be provided, at least initially, by the IOC. Embarrassing. Ultimately, it could be financed by its own clients, with international federations or event organizers expected to pay for its services.
A first full-scale test awaits it at the PyeongChang 2018 Games. An event where its independence, and that of its members, could be put to the test.
