Polish sports minister named as next head of WADA
PR dla Zagranicy
Grzegorz Siwicki
14.05.2019 19:00
Polish Sports Minister Witold Bańka was on Tuesday picked to be the next head of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), broadcaster TVP Info reported.
Poland's Sports and Tourism Minister Witold Bańka. Picture: Polish Radio
Bańka, 34, was selected over Marcos Diaz of the Dominican Republic at a meeting of government representatives in Montreal, Canada, the Polish public television broadcaster reported.
The international drug-fighting body is expected to officially announce its new chief at a conference in the southern Polish city of Katowice in November.
Bańka is set to take over as the organisation’s new head effective January 1.
The former 400-metres runner-turned-politician was in 2017 appointed a member of the executive committee of the international sports doping watchdog.
The Polish official in January won a key vote by a committee within the Council of Europe to become Europe’s candidate to succeed outgoing WADA President Craig Reedie.
The World Anti-Doping Agency was established in 1999 as an international, independent organisation funded by sports bodies and governments.
In 2017, a new Polish Anti-Doping Agency (POLADA) began operating to step up the fight against drug cheats in sports.
(gs/pk)
Source: TVP Info