Anti-doping president to be guest at St Andrews Rotary event

But the chances are not too many people will be aware of Sir Craig Reedie or his involvement ahead of the Games in Rio which get underway next weekend.

Sir Craig is president of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and a vice-president of the International Olympic Committee.

And that means he’s been involved in efforts to weed out drug-cheat athletes, including WADA’s major investigations into doping in Russia.

Sir Craig will be the guest at the next ‘Look Who’s Talking’ evening, which will be hosted by the Rotary Club of St Andrews in October.

The series has already featured golf commentator Peter Alliss and TV sports presenter Hazel Irvine, with both enthralling their audiences with stories from their involvement in sport.

The evening with Sir Craig should again prove to be an enlightening occasion, and an opportunity to hear more about efforts to ensure sport is ‘clean’.

Sir Craig has recently spoken of his disappointment that the IOC has not taken stronger action against the Russian Olympic Committee.

WADA’s independent McLaren Investigation exposed Russian state manipulation of the doping process, and the agency had recommended a ban on Russian athletes competing at Rio 2016.

However, the IOC decided against an outright ban.

Sir Craig said: “WADA is disappointed that the IOC did not heed WADA’s executive committee recommendations that would have ensured a straightforward, strong and harmonised approach.

“The McLaren Report exposed, beyond a reasonable doubt, a state-run doping programme in Russia that seriously undermines the principles of clean sport embodied within the World Anti-Doping Code.”

Sir Craig (75), from Stirling, was an international badminton player in the 1960s.

A former partner in a firm of independent financial advisors, he was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws by the University of St Andrews in 2005.

Details of tickets for the ‘Look Who’s Talking’ evening will be announced at a later date.