French sports minister nominated for WADA presidency

44 European sports ministers recently gathered in Strasbourg to nominate candidates for WADA, the World Anti-Doping Agency.

Jean-Francois Lamour was nominated for the top post as president of WADA. Lamour became sports minister for France in 2002 and is said to be one of Europe’s most outspoken officials on doping.

Lamour is also known for his career as an athlete. He won his first gold medal at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles and four years later the fencing champion won gold yet again, this time in Seoul. If elected Lamour will succeed Dick Pound as WADA's president next year.

The Council of Europe also confirmed Danish sports minister and current WADA vice president Brian Mikkelsen as a candidate to WADA's executive board.

The Russian sports minister who is currently heading WADA’s athletes committee, Vyacheslav Fetisov, was nominated for the foundation board of WADA as well as representative of the Council of Europe member states.

A final list of candidates will be announced in November 2006.