Anti-doping agency headquarters set to stay in Montreal

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is one step closer to staying in Montreal after a weekend of negotiations in Paris.

Quebec International Relations Minister Christine St-Pierre made the announcement on social media early Sunday.

"We're convinced that Montreal remains the ideal place for the agency and I think that people understand that this morning," St-Pierre told Radio-Canada.

Ina bid to ensure the agency's headquarters remain in Montreal, St-Pierre and Federal Transport Minister Marc Garneauwere part of a delegation meeting with European officials in Paris.

WADA was committed to staying in the cityuntil at least 2021. There wasspeculation, however, that at that pointthe office could move to Europe, closer to the International Olympic Committee, which is basedin Switzerland.

One of the delegation's goals was to emphasize to the executive committee theconsiderable costs ofmoving WADA, as well as the fact thatmaintaining a distance from the IOC ensures WADA's independence.

"We were confident when we arrived," said St-Pierre. "We also had allies. Some countries wanted the agency to remain in Montreal. We did our work with those representatives."

The agency's executive committee will now hammer out the next deal withfederal and Quebec government officials, which means WADA could remain in Montreal until at least 2031.

"We're very open to negotiations," said St-Pierre.

"Let's see how we can enhance our offer and we have until the end of November to do it."

The final decision will be made in November in Seoul.

The agencywas established in Montrealin 1999 with the help of Dick Pound, a former Canadian Olympic swimmer and WADA's first president.

The stated goal of the organizationis to "preserve the integrity of sport and uphold the values of fair play." Ithas a staff of74 in Montreal and 88 worldwide.