Will WADA soon get a serious facelift? Possible. Less than 10 months before the official announcement of the name of Craig Reedie's successor as president, a first candidate is on the line. He is just thirty years old.
Meeting on Wednesday January 30 in Strasbourg, the ad hoc committee of the Council of Europe was to choose the continent's candidate from three applicants: Witold Banka, the Polish Minister of Sports and Tourism; Linda Halleland, the former Norwegian Minister for Children and Equality; Philippe Muyters, the Flemish Minister of Sports in the Belgian government.
The vote promised to be close. It really wasn't. Witold Banka obtained 28 votes, against 16 for Linda Helleland, and 5 for Philippe Muyters. The Pole therefore continues the race. His appointment must now be confirmed by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, during a meeting scheduled for February 27, 2019.
By passing this second stage, he will officially become Europe's candidate for the presidency of WADA. He will then have to lead the battle against the candidate(s) from the rest of the world. The Dominican Marcos Diaz, already present on the council of the AMA Foundation (just like Linda Helleland and Philippe Muyters), has already declared himself. Asia could soon move forward in its turn.
According to the adopted principle of alternation, the future president of WADA must be chosen by governments. The choice is announced for the month of May 2019. Its official designation is planned for November, on the occasion of the world conference on doping in Katowice, Poland.
Barely knowing the result of the vote of the ad hoc committee of the Council of Europe, Witold Banka had a first reaction on his Twitter account. “Europe has chosen me to be the official candidate for the presidency of WADA. It’s a great honor for me.”he wrote.
Aged 34, Witold Banka had a career in athletics before turning to politics. A lap specialist, he won the bronze medal with the Polish 4x400m relay at the 2007 world championships in Osaka. He has a personal best of 46 sec 11 in the 400 m. He has been a member of the Polish conservative government since November 2015, where he holds the portfolio of Minister of Tourism and Sports.
At WADA, Witold Banka is not unknown. He already sits on the executive committee, just like Linda Helleland, as representatives of public authorities.
Big winner of the day, Philippe Muyters did not hide his disappointment. “ I didn't expect this result, he told the agency Belgian. I had received fairly positive signals from several countries and I was convinced that I was a serious candidate. Such a difference is a bit unexpected"
But the pill is even bitterer for Linda Helleland. Vice-president of the AMA, the Norwegian led a very media campaign. Since the start of the race, she has positioned herself as the candidate of a hard line against Russia. Obviously, she paid the price.
