Even if WADA finally approves France's Sports Minister Jean-Francois Lamour, Vyacheslav Fetisov, center, will play the key part in the anti-dope battle.
Photo: Dmitry Azarov
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Vyacheslav Fetisov Turned Down as Anti-Doping Authority
The informal get-together of European sports ministers recommended on Saturday a single candidate to the office of WADA’s vice chairman. It isn’t Vyacheslav Fetisov of Russia, as Europe prefers France's Sports Minister Jean-Francois Lamour.
Putting forward Europe’s single candidate to the office of World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) vice chairman was the obvious highlight of the Moscow meeting. The vice chairman will take over WADA in a year once today’s chief of this influential sports authority, Dick Pound of Canada, vacates the office.
There were two candidates Saturday – Vyacheslav Fetisov, who is in charge of Russia’s Federal Agency for Physical Training and Sport and member of WADA Board of Founders, and France's Sports Minister Jean-Francois Lamour. According to Fetisov’s supporters, his chances weren’t slim, especially in view of the programs presented by candidates. The French minister confined to the general rhetoric, while Fetisov raised some definite problems, ranging from the anti-doping laboratories to new types of prohibited drugs, including the gene drugs.
In the end, however, Lamour enjoyed the majority of 35 votes and only nine votes were cast for the Russian. But all support of the E.U. sports ministers notwithstanding, Fetisov’s mates are still optimistic. They say the final decision will be made by the Council of Europe’s cabinet October 25 or by the meeting of WADA founders November 20. Nominating Europe’s single candidate “hasn’t been officially ratified yet,” Fetisov said in his speech.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of Oct. 23, 2006
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