UK Anti-Doping chief leaving to head rowing body

LONDON (AP) Andy Parkinson is leaving his post as head of Britain's anti-doping agency to become chief executive of the country's rowing body.

Parkinson, who has headed U.K. Anti-Doping since its inception in 2009, will step down at the end of the year to take over at British Rowing starting on Jan. 1.

Parkinson says ''now is the time for me to seek a fresh challenge.''

UKAD chair David Kenworthy says Parkinson ''laid the foundations for what has become a global leading organization in anti-doping.''

Kenworthy says a global search will begin immediately to find a new chief executive.

British Rowing chair Annamarie Phelps says Parkinson ''brings a wealth of experience and proven leadership capabilities in sporting governance, both national and international.''