SYDNEY: Facing a challenge brings out the best in John Fahey.

It's a quality that will serve him well as the likely successor to Dick Pound as president of the World Anti-Doping Agency, the international body established in 1999 to coordinate the fight against drugs in sports.

John Fahey, the 62-year-old Australian who will soon be thrust into the role of president of the World Anti-Doping Agency is pictured in Sydney on November 6. [Agencies]

Fahey has never shrunk from adversity, whether it was leading Sydney's successful bid for the 2000 Olympics - and celebrating the victory with a gold-medal-worthy leap for joy - helping foil a potential shooting of Britain's Prince Charles, beating lung cancer, or overcoming a daughter's death in a car crash.

The 62-year-old's perseverance will again be tested when he is thrust into the high-profile role as head of the Montreal-based WADA. The former Australian finance minister and leader of New South Wales state is the only candidate to succeed Pound following the surprise withdrawal last month of France's Jean-Francois Lamour.

He should be elected the new president on November 17 in Madrid, and will take over for Pound officially on Jan. 1.

"If the election carries, I hope to get more government involvement in the fight against doping, more cooperation," Fahey told The Associated Press. "That isn't to suggest it isn't there now, but the more that's there, the better the outcome."

Lamour's withdrawal has tinged Fahey's expected presidency with controversy, something Fahey didn't expect when he was approached by Australian and international officials - he prefers not to identify them - to bid for the unpaid and high-pressure job.

Two weeks ago, after Lamour dropped out, Fahey was anointed WADA's "president-designate" by Australia's sports minister, which didn't sit well with Fahey.

"That was a cause of consternation," Fahey said. "I take the view that there is still an election... but it is difficult to see where I can't be elected."

He said he's aware of the criticism that has come out of Europe since Lamour dropped out.

"I can't deny in discussions with a number of European (sports) ministers that there is some level of concern about the fact that they anticipated or expected that the president to be a European," Fahey said. "But that's not my fault that a candidate withdrew."

International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge, who had a strong relationship with Lamour, offered a cautious endorsement of Fahey.

While conceding that the WADA succession "could have been a bit more orderly," Rogge said the Olympic movement should back Fahey in the face of some European reluctance.

"John Fahey deserves to have the time to show his credentials," he said. "He's an intelligent man, he's new to the sports movement and fight against doping. He deserves the chance to show his capacities and will be judged on how he performs. I will give him the benefit of having time to come into his role."