The Polish city was awarded the event here at the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Foundation Board meeting after its two rivals - Muscat in Oman and Geneva in Switzerland - withdrew.

It left Katowice, located around 290 kilometres south of capital Warsaw, as the only candidate in the race for what is expected to be a key meeting of the anti-doping world.

The event will take place at the International Conference Centre, with the exact date yet to be confirmed.

Katowice Mayor Marcin Krupa and Sports Minister Witold Bańka, a former 400 metres sprinet, were part of a high-level Polish delegation present at today's meeting.

Krupa, elected Mayor of the city in December 2014, claimed the country was "proud" of the work they have done so far in the fight against doping.

"In 2019 years the International Conference Centre in Katowice will become the world centre of anti-doping," said Bańka.

"This is a very prestigious event for the Polish, the city of Katowice and the whole environment of sports and another important step in the fight for a clean sport. 

"It is in our country will be taken key decisions defining the global direction of the fight against doping."

Three cities had submitted an interest in hosting the event by the November 25 deadline.

Muscat and Geneva decided, however, to pull out prior to today's Foundation Board meeting.

"After opening a tender process, they were the sole applicant so it was a very easy decision," WADA President Sir Craig Reedie said.

"But I was very impressed by the facilities that we are going to have and I think it will be a very successful conference."

The 2019 World Conference will be the fifth event of its kind, following in the footsteps of those held in Lausanne in 1999, Copenhagen in March 2003, Madrid in 2007 and Johannesburg in 2013.

At the last edition of the event in the South African city, Sir Craig was elected President to replace John Fahey.