- Irish sprinter Leon Reid has been selected for the Irish Olympic team despite being charged with drugs and firearms charges
- Reid has been charged with conspiracy to supply a class A drug, permitting premises to be used in the production of a class A crack cocaine, concealing criminal property and acquiring criminal property.
- He won bronze in the 200m at the 2018 Commonwealth Games
The 26-year-old runner was named in the Irish Olympic team on Thursday, after officials ratified his nomination. He will compete for Ireland in the 200m alongside Marcus Lawler.
Reid is currently on bail after pleading not guilty to drugs and firearms charges at Bristol Crown Court on June 2. According to BBC Sport, he is due to attend court for a mention hearing, which checks the progression of a case, on July 23, the day that the Olympic Games are scheduled to start in Japan. His full trial is reportedly set for November 29.
An Athletics Ireland statement, released when Reid was charged, said: ‘Athletics Ireland has been notified today that an Irish international athlete, Leon Reid, has been charged with a criminal offence outside the jurisdiction of Ireland.
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‘Athletics Ireland cannot comment further until all elements of due process have been completed.’
Reid, who was born in Bath, won a 200m silver medal at the European Junior Championships in 2013 when competing for Great Britain, but he later chose to represent Northern Ireland and Ireland. He won a bronze medal for Northern Ireland in the 200m at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and more recently put in a strong performance at the Irish Championships, winning the Men's 200m race.
