Witold Bańka

Witold Bańka (born 3 October 1984) is a Polish former 400 metres sprinter[1] turned politician. Since November 2015, he has been the Minister of Sport and Tourism in the cabinet of Beata Szydło and cabinet of Mateusz Morawiecki. In May 2019, he was elected President of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

Witold Bańka
4th President of WADA
Assumed office
1 January 2020
Vice PresidentYang Yang
Preceded byCraig Reedie
Minister of Sport and Tourism
In office
16 November 2015 – 15 November 2019
PresidentAndrzej Duda
Prime MinisterBeata Szydło
Mateusz Morawiecki
Preceded byAdam Korol
Succeeded byMateusz Morawiecki
Personal details
Born (1984-10-03) 3 October 1984
Tychy, Poland
Political partyLaw and Justice
Alma materUniversity of Silesia in Katowice
ProfessionSprinter
Political scientist
Signature

Athletic career

Bańka's biggest achievement as an athlete was the bronze medal in the 4 × 400 metres relay at the 2007 World Championships although he only competed in the heats. He also won several relay medals at lower level competitions. He retired from professional sport in 2012 having failed to qualify for the 2012 Summer Olympics.[2]

Competition record
YearCompetitionVenuePositionEventNotes
Representing  Poland
2005 European U23 Championships Erfurt, Germany 1st 4 × 400 m relay 3:04.41
2007 Universiade Bangkok, Thailand 1st 4 × 400 m relay 3:02.05
World Championships Osaka, Japan 3rd 4 × 400 m relay 3:02.391
2009 Universiade Belgrade, Serbia 2nd 4 × 400 m relay 3:05.69

1He was not selected for the final where the Polish team finished third but also received a bronze medal.

Personal bests

Outdoor

  • 200 metres – 21.83 (+1.5 m/s, Bielsko-Biała 2006)
  • 400 metres – 46.11 (Osaka 2007)

Indoor

  • 400 metres – 48.87 (Spała 2009)

Political career

In 2018 he became a candidate for the chair of the World Anti-Doping Agency.[3] Poland’s sport minister Witold Banka has been chosen as Europe’s candidate to become the next head of the World Anti-Doping Agency.[4] In May 2019 Bańka was elected as WADA's fourth president, commencing his four-year term on 1 January 2020.[5]

See also

References
  1. Witold Bańka at World Athletics
  2. "Niespełniony biegacz ministrem sportu. Kim jest Witold Bańka?" (in Polish). eurosport.onet.pl. 2015-11-09. Retrieved 2016-01-18.
  3. "WADA Presidential Candidate". aroundtherings.com. 2019-05-06. Retrieved 2019-05-06.
  4. "Europe chooses Polish sports minister". reuters.com. 2019-05-06. Retrieved 2019-05-06.
  5. "New WADA president". swimswam.com. 2019-05-14. Retrieved 2019-05-14.
Political offices
Preceded by
Adam Korol		 Minister of Sports and Tourism in Poland
2015–2019		 Succeeded by
Mateusz Morawiecki
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