The Olympic ‘ban’ against Russia merely a gesture

Serious crime merited a firm response,

Much has been made of the International Olympic Committee’s recent decision to ban Russia from the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea.

Many call the move a momentous decision. Indeed, the heat was on the IOC to take action given widespread criticism that it abdicated adjudication of Russia’s doping violations to the international sport federations in the run up to the Rio de Janeiro Games in 2016.

So, what about this decision for winter 2018? What about this ban? First, I turned to the dictionary to refresh my understanding of the official definition of the verb to ban: “to officially or legally prohibit (something or someone).”

It’s hard to line that definition up with the actions of the IOC. What we know is that upwards of 200 Russian athletes wish to compete in South Korea this February, even if it means being classified as an OAR — Olympic athlete from Russia — as opposed to representing their own flag directly.

While the IOC is still determining how many Russian athletes will meet its criteria for participation, these athletes continue to prepare with the full support of Russian sport authorities, coaches and service providers, just like athletes competing from every other officially sanctioned country.

Russian athletes will win Olympic medals and may well seek to wrap themselves in Russian flags offered proudly from their fans on hand to watch them take victory laps, the same as medal winners from any other country would.

These athletes will stand just as tall on the podium collecting their medals. They will be feted as heroes at home by Russian President Vladimir Putin. They will be lauded as models of strength, overcoming the adversity of western-sponsored conspiracy in their triumph on the world’s stage.

So, what will be missing? What has the IOC actually banned?

Simply, we will not see the Russian flag. We will not see reference to Russia’s sovereignty, nor hear its national anthem at medal ceremonies.

This is the extent of the teeth shown by the IOC as punishment for engineering and propagating the greatest doping operation in the history of sport. A true ban would prohibit Russia’s participation in the Games, period.

Merely censoring the visibility of a national flag and anthem don’t qualify. Some would say a wholesale ban would be unduly harsh. Yes, it would be, but punishment is meant to fit a crime and this one is without precedent, the Russian government having institutionalized doping across the landscape of Russian winter sport.

Richard McLaren, Dick Pound and many others have diligently exposed the world to incontrovertible evidence confirming this reality. In the lead up to Sochi, large numbers of Russian athletes were following organized doping regimens, and those not participating were, in many instances, aware of what their peers were up to.

If we want to level the playing field for athletes, it is not just countries, but the athletes themselves and their national Olympic committees worldwide that must co-operate and set a higher standard for governance.

Athletes who truly seek a level playing field will need to police themselves. National Olympic committees need to increase their vigilance on their home turf while also pressuring the IOC to make the tough, credible calls on doping globally.

This initiative should start with the Canadian Olympic Committee stepping up to fill the IOC’s credibility void, leading by example. Doping is a worldwide phenomenon. The pathway to dope-free sport starts with leadership and purpose.

Let this ban that is not a ban be a line in the sand. It’s high time we stop this mockery of Olympic ideals, roll up our sleeves and address the issue head on.

This is the extent of the teeth shown by the IOC as punishment for engineering and propagating the greatest doping operation in the history of sport.