Katowice (Poland) (AFP)

The founding board of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has elected its new president, Polish Sports Minister Witold Banka, before revising its fundamental text, the World Anti-Doping Code, on Thursday in Katowice, Poland.

Former 400-year-old cyclist Witold Banka, who succeeds Britain's Craig Reedie, 78, of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), has promised to improve the budget for anti-doping, including that of WADA ( 32 million euros in 2019), which he described as "ridiculous" on Tuesday, comparing him to a "middle-level football club".

"I will work hard to keep the number of countries or sports where anti-doping programs are low or non-existent as low as possible," he said at the conclusion of the Fifth World Conference on Doping on Thursday. in sport, which stood in his native Silesia.

Witold Banka intends to launch a solidarity fund, which could be supplemented by private sponsors, to help poor countries in doping, but "it will be a long way", previous initiatives have already failed, he said Tuesday at a round table.

Witold Banka will take office on 1 January 2020 and will have resigned from the Polish Conservative government. This is the last time the WADA presidency turns between its two pillars (IOC / States), as the agency has adopted the principle of an independent presidency beginning in 2022, to alleviate criticism of political or political interference. of the sports movement in its operation.

He will be seconded to the position of vice-president by China's Yang Yang, a two-time gold medalist in speed skating at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics.

WADA's Board of Trustees also approved Thursday a new version of its World Anti-Doping Code, its "bible", which came into effect for the first time in 2004. This text harmonizes sanctions for all sports and all signatory countries .

© 2019 AFP