The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), which was officially established in November, will hold its inaugural meeting at Lausanne on Thursday. The agency, initially to be headed by International Olympic Committee (IOC) vice-president Dick Pound, is aimed at stamping out the drug taking in sport. WADA's gathering on Thursday will discuss the criteria and selection procedures for further participants and observers. The board currently has 12 members representing the European Union and sporting and Olympic organizations. The IOC had said that WADA's board would be composed of up to 35 members with a three-year mandate. The Olympic body and sports organizations will nominate half, with governments and public organizations putting forward the same number. Also on the agenda is the choice of a permanent headquarters for the agency which is temporarily based in Lausanne. (Xinhua) |