WADA President, Sir Craig Reedie, receives highest accolade of British honours list

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is delighted to announce that WADA’s President, Sir Craig Reedie, has been awarded the prestigious Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE) of the 2018 Queen’s birthday honours list, which was published today in the London Gazette. The award, which is the highest accolade of its kind, will be presented to Sir Craig for his services to sport.

In the official citation, Sir Craig is described as “one of the leading global figures in the world of sport” who “has led the fight against doping, tackling high-profile and highly controversial issues across sport”.

It continues: “He has led major reform of WADA’s systems and processes, with a particular focus on compliance, investigations and whistleblowing. He has launched ‘Speak Up!’, a new secure digital platform to allow athletes to report alleged anti-doping rule violations.”

Upon receiving the news of his GBE, Sir Craig said: “This is truly a great honour for me and for WADA. It recognizes the important work that we are doing in leading the fight against doping in sport and in protecting clean athletes against cheats. This award is a vote of confidence for everyone within the anti-doping movement, a reminder that our efforts are appreciated and valued by the wider world and that our mission is an important one for society as a whole.”

WADA Director General Olivier Niggli said: “On behalf of WADA, I extend our heartfelt congratulations to Sir Craig Reedie for his years of commitment and dedication to the Agency and clean sport. Sir Craig has been on WADA’s Board since the Agency’s inception in 1999, having served as President since 2014.  Never one to back down from a challenge, Sir Craig has navigated the Agency through the turbulence of the Russian doping scandal and put measures in place, including funding, to ensure that the Agency is fit for the future and able to protect the rights of clean athletes worldwide. His time at the helm has delivered many achievements for WADA – this prestigious award is an acknowledgement of his important contribution.”

Each year, on New Year’s Day and on 9 June (the British Queen’s official birthday), a list of those set to receive honours is published by the British Government. The most common order into which those being honoured are admitted is the Order of the British Empire, instituted by King George V in 1917 as a way of marking civilian achievement. The GBE is the highest of the six ranks in the order and is presented for exceptional service. It is rare – typically only one or two are given out each year.