Will a Norwegian politician succeed a former Scottish badminton player? The bets are open. One thing is certain: the race for the presidency of the World Anti-Doping Agency has just begun. With a first candidate on the starting line.
Linda Helleland (photo above), 40, very officially announced on Thursday May 24 her decision to apply to succeed Craig Reedie. The Scottish leader will hand over the keys to his office next year, after two mandates of which he will undoubtedly have very shared memories. In recent years, the doping affair in Russia and the power struggles with the IOC have given the face-to-face function the appearance of a poisoned chalice. But more is needed, it seems, to discourage vocations.
Linda Helleland chose to declare herself during an interview with the BBC, carried out in his ministerial office in Oslo. “ I would like to be the next president of the AMA”, she admitted. Before specifying the content of his campaign: “ WADA needs more independence, transparency and democracy. But it also needs a better balance between partners. Currently, there is a perception that the Olympic movement is the strongest of the stakeholders. We need to strengthen the role of governments. And I want to take care of it"
The tone is set. Having entered politics quite young, within the Conservative Party, Linda Helleland made her debut in the Norwegian government last January, as Minister of Children and Equality. But she is not unknown to the sports movement. She was elected vice-president of WADA in December 2016.
The Norwegian does not hide it: the anti-doping movement is, in her eyes, “ crossroads. » If she wins the presidential election next year, she plans to use her political experience to restore credibility and independence. “ The most important thing for me is that WADA has a good president, capable of restoring its strength and independence. she explained to the BBC. In recent years, the reality of the fight against doping has become very confusing. The lack of confidence of athletes and fans in the institutions responsible for wrestling is a very big problem for me."
The race is on. She already looks furious. In the opposite camp, the Olympic movement will not sit idly by. The IOC and the international federations will have to agree, over the coming months, to pull out of the hat a candidate to present to thwart the ambitions of the Norwegian minister and, with her, the governments. Never simple.
A name is already mentioned in conversations: Valérie Fourneyron. The former French Minister of Sports was appointed last October at the head of the new Independent Control Authority, designed by WADA to ensure greater independence in anti-doping procedures. Valérie Fourneyron is already there. She would have the support of Thomas Bach. Towards a Fourneyron/Helleland match?
