MOSCOW, September 12 (RIA Novosti) - Toronto Mayor Rob Ford withdrawn from mayoral race due to health reasons, but his older brother, Doug Ford officially took his place in a race to run Toronto.
"I've asked Doug to finish what we started together, so that all we've accomplished isn't washed away. I have asked Doug to run to become the next Mayor of Toronto, because we need him. We cannot go backwards," Rob Ford said in an official statement on Friday.
The reason for the swap is the fact that the current mayor was hospitalized on Wednesday over suspicion of having abdominal tumor. He is now undergoing medical tests, including a biopsy.
Rob Ford gained global notoriety after admitting that he smoked crack cocaine. He has also been spotted while drunk driving, using foul language and heavy drinking in public. He even did not hesitate to dance reggae in the Toronto City Council during the meeting. Ford repeatedly asked Canadians for forgiveness and said he would do his best as a mayor to benefit Toronto.
He returned to work and campaigning in June after two months spent in local rehabilitation clinic.
A poll released on Wednesday showed Rob Ford running in second place in the mayoral race with 28 percent of the vote, behind conservative John Tory, who had 40 percent of voter support, according to Reuters.
