Former BOA chair and Wada president Sir Craig Reedie dies aged 84
Sir Craig Reedie, the former chair of the British Olympic Association and president of the World Anti-Doping Agency, has died at the age of 84.
The influential administrator led the BOA between 1992 and 2005 before serving as the third president of Wada from 2014 to 2019.
During his tenure as BOA chair, the 84-year-old played a pivotal role in London’s successful bid to host the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
He subsequently served as a director for the organising committee and held vice-presidential duties on the International Olympic Committee executive board.
A driving force for clean sport
The Scotsman’s tenure at Wada coincided with one of the most turbulent periods in modern sporting history.
He presided over the global anti-doping watchdog during the exposure of state-sponsored doping in Russia.
This monumental investigation ultimately led to the nation’s athletes being banned from competing under their national flag.
Current BOA chair Dame Katherine Grainger paid tribute to his unwavering commitment to integrity across the sporting spectrum.
“He always fought hard for Olympic sport, and fought harder still for clean sport.”
“Few knew the Olympic movement better and fewer still served it with such distinction. It was the measure of Craig that it never diminished his love of sport.”
From badminton court to boardroom
Before embarking on a transformative career in sports administration, the former Great Britain international was a distinguished badminton player in the 1960s.
His passion for the racket sport translated into executive success when he spearheaded the campaign to introduce badminton to the Olympic programme at Barcelona 1992.
The IOC’s Kirsty Coventry highlighted his enduring legacy in athlete development and ethical governance.
“He was a steadfast guardian of integrity, guiding the global sporting community through some of its most challenging moments with dignity and resolve.”
In recognition of a lifetime dedicated to athletic advancement, the sporting pioneer was knighted in 2006 and elevated to Knight Grand Cross in 2018.
