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:
That was before my time. Also, at that time we did not have the power to conduct that kind of investigation.”
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.
The42 is on Snapchat! Tap the button below on your phone to add!