Sir Craig Reedie, a former international badminton player who became a key figure in Olympic and anti-doping circles, has died at the age of 84. World Athletics announced his passing, with President Sebastian Coe paying tribute to Reedie's contributions to sport.
Reedie, a Scotsman, competed for Great Britain in badminton before transitioning to sports administration. He served as president of the World Anti-Doping Agency, chaired the British Olympic Association, and was a vice president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
He played crucial roles in London's successful bid for the 2012 Olympics and in securing badminton's inclusion in the Olympic program for the 1992 Barcelona Games. Reedie was elected as an IOC member in 1994 and became an honorary member in 2021.
In a statement, World Athletics President Sebastian Coe described Reedie as a sportsman with the mind and tenacity of a politician. "He certainly did not suffer fools gladly, was authentic, and would speak his mind," Coe said. "He was laser-like in his directness, would go into battle to defend what he believed was right."
The IOC announced that its flag would fly at half-staff for three days at its headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, in Reedie's honor.
