McCaffrey decides Pound is OK

Two weeks ago, US drug chief Barry McCaffrey was calling for Dick Pound's removal as the head of the new World Anti-Doping Agency. The two had lunch at the White House on Wednesday, and McCaffrey decided Pound was OK after all.

Two weeks ago, US drug chief Barry McCaffrey was calling for Dick Pound's removal as the head of the new World Anti-Doping Agency. The two had lunch at the White House on Wednesday, and McCaffrey decided Pound was OK after all.

"I've got to strongly, publicly support Dick Pound's leadership of WADA in the interim," McCaffrey said. "He brings the experience to get this put together."

McCaffrey was concerned the presence of Pound, an International Olympic Committee vice president, would leave the agency tied too closely to the IOC.

"I think what Gen. McCaffrey wanted out of this meeting was to be sure that this was going to be an independent agency," Pound said. "And I think we've given him that."

WADA was established to combat growing concerns about drug use in Olympic sports. The agency plans to establish a list of banned substances, coordinate unannounced out-of-competition drug testing, develop standards for collecting and analyzing samples and push for unified drug sanctions and promote research.

Pound, from Canada, stressed he does not consider himself the long-term head of the agency.

"I've been asked to serve in this capacity while we get the thing set up and organized," Pound said. "It certainly won't be longer than two years."

Pound also said several cities - Madrid, Lisbon, Bonn and Vienna - had expressed interest in serving as WADA's headquarters. He said there would be a selection process in the coming months, with a city to be chosen probably a year from now.

The agency is based temporarily in Lausanne, Switzerland. Many people, including McCaffrey, have said the agency should not be based in the home of the IOC.

WADA will consist of 32 members, half from the Olympic movement and half from participating governments.

Pound said he hopes to hold the agency's first meeting in mid-January.