Madrid - Former French hurdler Guy Drut was nominated as a last-minute candidate Friday to run for president of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), even though the incumbent Richard Pound insisted that the deadline for nominations was long gone.

France's Guy Drut said Friday he would accept being the "candidate of compromise" for the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) presidency but appeared to have his path blocked by the incumbent Dick Pound, seen here 15 November 2007. [Agencies]

Pound said that candidates for Saturday's election could only be put forward until September 20, and that there was no chance that the door may be re-opened for new names.

Pound is stepping down from the position after leading the organization in its first eight years and it had been expected that former Australian finance minister John Fahey would succeed the Canadian as the only remaining candidate.

However, there has been discontent since former French sports minister and WADA vice president Jean-Francois Lamour, who was the candidate of the European bloc, dropped out of running last month, claiming WADA had violated its own election procedures by letting Fahey into the race.

International Olympic Committee (IOC) Vice President Thomas Bach admitted that there was "great confusion" around the process.

"I would be prepared (to run) if it helps clear up the situation," said Drut, who was reportedly asked by the Europeans to stand for the position.

Drut, who presented himself as a consensus candidate, won the 110-m hurdles at the 1976 Montreal Olympics. However, his resume is hardly impeccable, since he was convicted to a 15-month suspended jail sentence over illegal party finances in 2005.

The IOC then suspended Drut and denied him the possibility of holding an executive post at the committee for five years.

The Council of Europe said late Thursday that it would not back Fahey, who had also been criticized by some for not knowing enough about doping.

Europe is seeking more power at WADA, since it currently has only 28 per cent of the representation although it provides 47.5 per cent of the organization's budget.

Country governments and the Olympic movement hold an equal share of power at WADA. The IOC decided not to present its own candidate and to back the person chosen by the states. However, there is an apparent rift between Europe and Anglo-Saxon countries over a successor.

In Saturday's election, the 36 members of WADA's Founding Council will have to make a decision behind closed doors, and the 18 representing the Olympic movement will let the 18 others decide. Europe has 5 of those 18 votes and was busy trying to convince the rest on Friday.

Pound ruled out the possibility that no one would be chosen Saturday, and he also dismissed fears of a break-up leading to the creation of a European anti-doping agency.

Europe had a candidate that disappeared for reasons that remain unknown, Pound said, upset at the damage that the process is inflicting to WADA's image.