Although not specifically mentioned, anti-doping is said to be among the key strands of his 100-day plan to empower all European National Federations unveiled today, centred around the three elements of "Progress, Empowerment and Partnerships".

It comes following extensive media criticism following allegations that five positive doping tests registered by Chinese swimmers were covered up.

There have also been concerns of systemic failures in the Russian team on a similar level to what has been seen in other sports such as athletics. 

Royal Dutch Swimming Federation President and LEN vice-president van Heijningen, a leading lawyer who headed the FINA Doping Panel from 2009 to 2013, defended the programmes within the sport and insisted a lot of good work is being done.

He admitted, however, they can still improve both the quantity and quality of tests.

Increasing out-of-competition testing and ensure there is a less of a discrepency between how often swimmers from different countries are tested were hailed as two priorities.

An information line in which potential whistleblowers can come forward is another idea.

van Heijningen stopped short of recommending whole countries should be suspended from competition, although admitted this is an "option on the table".

"We have to be careful not to ban the clean athletes," the Dutchman told insidethegames.

"If there is any information on a systemic doping system in one country, then that [suspending a country] is an option on the table.

"It is not up to me to decide.

"He or she should be dealt with professionally because doping is killing the sport."

At a LEN level, van Heijningen believes they must do more to help the 52 Member Federations "understand the complex world of anti-doping".

The 54-year-old is locked in a two-horse race with incumbent Paolo Barelli for the Presidency.

Barelli is a former Olympic swimmer from Italy who competed at Munich 1972 and Montreal 1976 and won a 4x100 metres freestyle relay bronze medal at the 1975 World Championships in Cali.

Barelli, also President of Italian Swimming Federation, has run a low-key campaign and has released no information about his plans publicly.

The 61-year-old Senator from Rome faced fraud allegations in 2014 after claims a sum of $1 million (£720,000/€916,000) allocated to the national governing body to be spent on the pool used for the 2009 World Championships in Rome were unaccounted for.

He strongly denied the charges and no further action has ever been taken.

Van Heijningen is presenting himself as a candidate who will bring about much-needed change in the running of the continental body.

Key ideas of his campaign - which is being aided by Lausanne-based TSE Consulting - include better promotion through social media and improved development programmes to boost the transfer of knowledge between bodies.

A more bottom-up that top-down approach is another priority, with all decisions to be based on "detailed analysis and discussions".

Van Heijningen criticised the recent decision to increase prize money at LEN events because it was made without such debate and, he believes, will benefit only those who are already well supported.

In contrast, he would channel development money to nations with less infrastructure and lower standards in order to improve levels.

The election is due to be held in London on the eve of the European Championships on May 8.

Each of the 52 National Federations will have two votes, with a simple majority required for victory.

There are suggestions that the contest is being split on geographical lines, with van Heijningen drawing more support from the north of Europe and Barelli more popular in the Mediterranean south.

Van Heijningen rejects this analysis, however, and claims there is demand for change from all parts.

"The feeling of change is everything," he told insidethegames.

"People realise and are starting to connect with this.

"I think I am a representative of a new generation who has proven to be professional."