Former BOA and Wada Executive Reedie Dies Aged 84

Sir Craig Reedie, a prominent figure in the Olympic world, passed away at the age of 84. His legacy in promoting clean sport and supporting the Olympic movement will be remembered. A former chair of the British Olympic Association (BOA) and president of the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada), Reedie played a pivotal role in shaping international athletics.

Leadership in Olympic Governance

Reedie served as chair of the BOA from 1992 to 2005, contributing to the successful London 2012 bid. He later joined the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as a member of its executive board until 2012, after which he became vice president. His tenure at Wada, from 2014 to 2019, coincided with the exposure of Russia’s state-sponsored doping program, leading to significant sanctions against the nation’s athletes.

Throughout his career, Reedie was recognized for his unwavering dedication. In 1999, he was awarded the Commander of the British Empire (CBE), and in 2006, he was knighted as a Knight Bachelor. His honors culminated in 2018 with the elevation to Knight Grand Cross (GBE).

Badminton and Olympic Advocacy

Before entering Olympic administration, Reedie was a top-tier badminton player for Great Britain in the 1960s. He later led the Scottish Badminton Union and became the president of the International Badminton Federation in 1981. His efforts were crucial in securing badminton’s inclusion in the 1992 Barcelona Games.

“If you have worked in Olympic sport, then it’s highly likely that you would have known Sir Craig Reedie. How lucky we all were,” said Dame Katherine Grainger, current BOA chair.

“Few knew the Olympic movement better and fewer still served it with such distinction. His dedicated service to the BOA, to the IOC and to Wada is notable,” added Grainger.

“He always fought hard for Olympic sport, and fought harder still for clean sport. In doing so he saw the good and, inevitably, the bad of our sporting system,” she continued.

“Sir Craig dedicated his whole life to the service of sport and the Olympic Movement,” noted IOC president Kirsty Coventry. “He was a steadfast guardian of integrity, guiding the global sporting community through some of its most challenging moments with dignity and resolve.”

“His contribution to the Olympic Games, to clean sport and to the development of athletes worldwide will endure for generations to come,” Coventry concluded.

Reedie’s career spanned decades of influence, blending his athletic background with strategic leadership to uphold the values of fair competition and global unity in sport.