The 72-year-old, who has been an Executive Board member since 1999 and was officially elected unanimously is November to succeed Australia's John Fahey, spoke optimistically about the new Code - which comes into effect on January 1, 2015 - and claimed it will go "a long way to answering some of the questions that our community has faced in recent years".

"As the new President of WADA, and having been involved with the organisation since the start, it is remarkable to think that WADA has only been in existence for under 15 years, particularly when one considers all that has been achieved in this short period of time," Sir Craig, who is an International Olympic Committee (IOC) vice-president, added.

"Since its formation in 1999 as an urgent response to a crisis in sport, WADA has evolved into a global leader tasked with harmonising, coordinating and promoting an effective fight against doping in sport...

"Unfortunately, all these years later, doping still exists in sport, but we can be optimistic with the new revised World Anti-Doping Code which will come into effect on January 1, 2015.

"This Code goes a long way to answering some of the questions that our community has faced in recent years and, as the President of this organisation, I believe that the collaborative approach WADA adopts will spur us all on to confront the biggest challenge facing Olympic sport today."

Thomas Bach (left) announced the IOC's new $10 million anti-doping fund last month ©Getty Images


Sir Craig also highlighted the IOC's new $10 million (£6 million/€7 million) anti-doping fund to boost detection methods in sport, which was announced by President Thomas Bach last month.

This new income is expected to be used to develop new testing techniques and could soon lead to drugs tests using hair and cell analysis, as traces of some drugs can last long in hair than in blood and urine specimens.

"The fight against doping in sport has received a major boost with the announcement by the President of the IOC of the creation of a fund of $10 million (£6 million/€7 million) to be directed to enhance research," Sir Craig explained.

"This creates a very exciting new opportunity and is gratefully acknowledged by WADA and all its stakeholders."

Sir Craig was previously chairman of the British Olympic Association (BOA) between 1992 and 2005 and was a key figure in the establishment of UK Anti-Doping, for which he acted as special advisor since the organisation was founded in December 2009 until his appointment as WADA President.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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