Stofile elected Wada vice-chair

Johannesburg - Former sports minister Makhenkesi Stofile was on Friday elected vice-president of World Anti-Doping Code (Wada) for two years, from 2014 to 2016.

Stofile, who previously served on the Wada executive committee and foundation board during his term as South Africa's sports minister, would serve under incoming president Craig Reedie.

The duo would replace outgoing president John Fahey of Australia and his deputy Arne Ljungqvist of Sweden.

Reedie, the IOC deputy president, had been nominated by the International Olympic Committee and served on London's 2012 Olympics organising committee.

Wada's Foundation Board, which comprised representatives from the Olympic movement and from governments, appointed the president and vice-president from within or from outside its structure.

There were currently 36 Wada Foundation Board members, plus the president and vice-president.

Earlier on Friday, delegates at a conference in Johannesburg adopted a more stringent doping code which would come into effect on January 1, 2015.

Doping bans would be doubled from a two-year period to four years, effectively making an athlete ineligible for one Olympic Games cycle.

"I hope and believe this conference will have an impact and a different meaning to everyone around the globe when it comes to this fight against cheaters and doping in sport," sports minister Fikile Mbalula said at the closing of the conference.

"The code we've adopted will be a code that will usher in a new meaning and will accelerate the fight against doping in sport.

"Here in Johannesburg, we renew ourselves against the fight against doping and we warn the cheaters and say 'you will never be tolerated'."

Mbalula reiterated South Africa and the African continent were ready to host the Olympic Games.

"Africa is ready to host the Olympics in the coming years, of course with your support," he said.

"This is the time, Ke Nako, we are ready to make it happen for the Africa continent."