Australian sports medic Corrigan dies

The doyen of Australian sports doctors Brian Corrigan has died, aged 87.

Corrigan was at the forefront of the sports medicine field and was one of the first to take up the fight against drugs in sport.

He was Australia's Olympic doctor with every team bar one from 1968 to 1988, and was remembered for rushing to the aid of distance runner Ron Clarke when he collapsed over the finish line of the 10,000m at the Mexico Olympics.

Corrigan was also Australian soccer's doctor for 30 years leading to his induction into the Soccer Hall of Fame.

He had an abiding love of cricket and for 40 years from 1957 was the NSW Cricket Association's doctor, with responsibility for the Australian team when they were in Sydney.

Showing his versatility, he also served the Manly rugby league team for six years in the late '60s.

Corrigan was Chairman of the Drugs in Sport Committee (Australian Sports Commission) from 1985 to 1989 and also Chairman of the Australian Sports Drug Agency (ASDA) for three years.

Corrigan was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for his services to sports medicine.

After recovering from a stroke six years ago Corrigan passed away peacefully on Friday with his funeral expected to be held in Sydney next week.