WADA mourns the passing of former President, Sir Craig Reedie

It is with great sadness that the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) notes the passing of its former President, Sir Craig Reedie, who has died at the age of 84. 

As a sports administrator, Sir Craig Reedie dedicated years to WADA’s global collaborative movement for doping-free sport, most notably having served as WADA’s third President from 2014-2019. He was also Chair of the Agency’s Finance and Administration Committee for many years starting with WADA’s inception in 1999 and was a long-time member of its Executive Committee and Foundation Board. 

WADA President Witold Bańka said: “We are very saddened to hear this news. On behalf of WADA staff and governance members past and present, I wish to convey our heartfelt condolences to Sir Craig’s wife, Lady Rosemary, his children and grandchildren and their wide circle of friends and colleagues. 

“With Sir Craig’s passing, we have lost a true gentleman and clean sport champion. He was a man of great integrity and, as a sportsman at heart, he believed that sport shows us it is always possible to do better – a belief he applied to his leadership of WADA. Sir Craig had a sharp mind and, as an elder statesman, the ability to mobilize stakeholders and staff behind what was in the best interests of clean sport and athletes worldwide.” 

During his term as WADA President, Sir Craig was especially proud of how the Agency responded to the challenges of the Russian Doping Crisis. Under his leadership, WADA developed a world-class Intelligence & Investigations team, which he regarded as the best in sport. The Agency implemented a strong World Anti-Doping Code Compliance Monitoring Program and approved the 2021 World Anti-Doping Program, which included a new International Standard for Education that he viewed as the most important policy advancement since the Program’s inception in 2004. Certainly, one of Sir Craig’s most enduring contributions was a far-reaching governance review that was initiated in 2016 and resulted in wide-ranging reforms that have made a significant difference in the way that the Agency is run. 

WADA Director General Olivier Niggli said: “It was an honor and a pleasure to work alongside Sir Craig for almost two decades. Beyond being a true gentleman, he was a wise and wonderful human being with quick wit. He will be greatly missed.” 

Sir Craig was born in Stirling, Scotland in 1941 and was an avid golfer. He played badminton at the international level before shifting to administration and serving as President of the International Badminton Federation from 1981 to 1984. He played an instrumental role in securing badminton’s addition to the Olympic Games program and was proud to see the sport he loved take its place in that pinnacle event. 

He joined the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as a Member in 1994, later serving on the IOC Executive Board (2009–2012) and as Vice-President (2012-2016). He chaired the BOA from 1992 to 2005, during which time he played a crucial role in London's successful bid to host the 2012 Olympic Games. He also served as Director of the London 2012 Organising Committee for the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games between 2005 and 2012. 

In recognition of his tremendous work, Sir Craig received the prestigious Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire in the 2018 Queen’s Birthday Honours list for services to sport.