The Financial Times wanted to pop around to the Glasgow home of the president of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), get a guided tour and take a few snaps for an online colour piece.
So, Craig Reedie agreed.
Now, as much as WADA had urged the International Olympic Committee to deliver a blanket ban to the Russia team for Rio 2016, they did so only after a number of different media exposes.
In fact, in 2015, it was alleged that Reedie – himself an IOC member – had sent a ‘reassuring’ email to Russia’s sports minister in light of a damning investigative TV piece by German station ARD that alleged widespread doping in the country.
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That story featured contributions from a Russian whistleblower who had first approached WADA with information but was ignored.
Speaking to the FT, Reedie distanced himself from any wrongdoing by saying:
That was before my time. Also, at that time we did not have the power to conduct that kind of investigation.”
WADA chief has framed photo of him shaking hands with Vladimir Putin in his house
IT SEEMED LIKE a pretty innocuous request.
The Financial Times wanted to pop around to the Glasgow home of the president of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), get a guided tour and take a few snaps for an online colour piece.
So, Craig Reedie agreed.
Now, as much as WADA had urged the International Olympic Committee to deliver a blanket ban to the Russia team for Rio 2016, they did so only after a number of different media exposes.
In fact, in 2015, it was alleged that Reedie – himself an IOC member – had sent a ‘reassuring’ email to Russia’s sports minister in light of a damning investigative TV piece by German station ARD that alleged widespread doping in the country.
That story featured contributions from a Russian whistleblower who had first approached WADA with information but was ignored.
Speaking to the FT, Reedie distanced himself from any wrongdoing by saying:
But at such a sensitive time for WADA, the IOC and other related organisations, Reedie is now responsible for a major PR gaffe.
As the photographer went around the house collecting various images, he came across a gallery of framed images on a wall.
The photos showed Reedie in conversation with various international political figures.
One appears to be signed.
It shows a beaming Reedie shaking hands with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.
You just couldn’t make it up.
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Craig Reedie Financial Times International Olympic Committee IOC Vladimir Putin WADA World Anti-Doping Agency you can't make it up