Home / Sports / Olympic Elder Statesman Craig Reedie Dies at 84
Olympic Elder Statesman Craig Reedie Dies at 84
7 Apr
Summary
- Craig Reedie, former WADA president, has died at age 84.
- He played a key role in London's 2012 Olympic bid success.
- Reedie led WADA during the Russian state-sponsored doping scandal.
Craig Reedie, a significant figure in Olympic and anti-doping circles, has died at the age of 84. The International Olympic Committee confirmed his passing on Monday.
Reedie was instrumental in London securing the 2012 Olympic Games and was also involved in getting badminton added to the Olympic program. His influential role within the IOC paved the way for his leadership of the World Anti-Doping Agency starting in 2013.
A major challenge during his tenure was the large-scale Russian state-sponsored doping scandal that emerged before the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Summer Olympics. Reedie's push for a complete ban of the Russian team faced strong opposition from the IOC, ultimately leading to a decision by governing bodies to determine their own Russian athletes' participation.
Described as a gentleman and an "elder statesman" of the Olympic movement, Reedie was known for his wisdom and dedication to clean sport. He served as an IOC member from 1994 until 2021, becoming an honorary member. The IOC will fly its flag at half-staff for three days at its headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, to honor his legacy.
