Valerie Fourneyron French politician, member of parliament Date of Birth: 04.10.1959 Country: France

1. Early Life and Education
2. Political Career in Rouen
3. Mayorship and National Assembly
4. Government and Resignation
5. International Role in Anti-Doping

Early Life and Education

Valérie Fourneyron was born on October 4, 1959, in Le Petit-Quevilly, a suburb of Rouen, France. Raised in a middle-class family with conservative political views, she initially shared these beliefs. However, her political leanings shifted to the left in her teenage years, and she campaigned for Valéry Giscard d'Estaing's presidential bid at the age of 14.

Fourneyron obtained a medical degree and worked as a sports physician from 1984 to 1989. She then joined the French Ministry of Sports from 1989 to 1991, coordinating medical programs for national sports teams. Subsequently, she headed the medical staff of the French women's volleyball team and the Rouen hockey club from 1991 to 1995.

Political Career in Rouen

Fourneyron's political journey began in 1995 when she joined the Socialist Party and was elected as deputy mayor of Rouen, initially responsible for sports and later for urban policy, health, and security. She also served as vice-president of the Upper Normandy regional council, focusing on sports.

In 2002, she was the Socialist candidate in the legislative elections for the 1st constituency of Seine-Maritime but narrowly lost to Patrick Herr of the Union for a Popular Movement (UMP). However, she secured victory in the 2007 legislative elections.

Mayorship and National Assembly

Fourneyron became the first woman elected mayor of Rouen in 2008, leading a unified Socialist list. She supported Martine Aubry's presidential bid in 2011 and played a role in François Hollande's campaign, focusing on sports issues.

Following the Socialists' electoral victory in 2012, Fourneyron was appointed Minister of Sports, Youth, and National Education in the government of Jean-Marc Ayrault, which necessitated her resignation as mayor of Rouen.

Government and Resignation

Fourneyron transitioned to the role of Secretary of State for Trade, Handicrafts, Tourism, and the Social Economy in Manuel Valls' government in 2014. However, due to health reasons, she resigned after two months.

She returned to the National Assembly but lost her bid for re-election in 2017 to Damien Adam of the En Marche! movement.

International Role in Anti-Doping

In October 2017, Fourneyron became the inaugural leader of the International Testing Agency (ITA), an organization established by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).