Koss: Russia not alone promoting drug use
The day before he became an honorary member of the Order of Canada, Norwegian speedskating icon Johann Olav Koss posted two links on his Twitter feed.
The first led to a media release about the Friday investiture ceremony at Rideau Hall; the second to a New York Times article detailing explosive allegations of an organized Russian doping program during the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics. The 47-year-old Koss, who established 10 world records and in the 1992 and 1994 Olympics captured four gold medals and two silvers competing in the 1,500, 5,000 and 10,000 metres, said he wanted people in high places to ask the appropriate questions about the “incredible” and spy-novel-worthy allegations.
Should Russia participate in the 2016 Rio Summer Games? What is the World Anti-Doping Agency doing? How can the world of sport stand up to something like this?
“I’m wondering what the sport leaders are saying,” Koss said during an interview at the residence of Norway’s ambassador to Canada, Anne Kari Hansen Ovind, during a reception in his honour. “I was tweeting it because my questions are those. What are we going to do about this thing? How do you in one part protect the athletes, both the clean and, of course, the Russians in some way, but also what do you do against a country when they do this?
“I don’t think (Russia) is the only one, and I think people know there are others doing similar work, maybe not of this sophistication, but also promoting drug use in their own way.”
Koss expressed extreme frustration with the continued widespread prevalence of doping in sport and described it as being “very far from the principles of sport” and “not necessarily what I associate with the Olympic values.”
He said doping athletes would always be discovered in time and their disgrace would be appropriate, but he also raised the issue of individual rights because his assessment of the allegations involving Russia was that athletes didn’t appear to be driving that program.
“You could have (a situation) like you no longer have a choice just by participating, that you are forced into doing something that you might not want to do as an athlete. This is a very complicated case.”
Koss was one of 42 individuals invested Friday as Order of Canada members by Gov. Gen. David Johnston. Retired basketball star Steve Nash and three others were named officers, and two individuals were named companions.
Koss’s was the only “honorary” appointment because, although he has lived in Toronto and has three Canadian-born children with his wife, Jennifer, he’s still a Norwegian citizen. He’s the first individual from that country to be recognized by the Order of Canada.
“I was almost speechless when I got the announcement (last July) and heard about it because, obviously, you don’t expect it. I didn’t even know it was possible as a nonCanadian,” he said.
Koss is now the CEO of the organization Right To Play, promotes using sport and play to “educate and empower children and youth to overcome the effects of poverty, conflict and disease in disadvantaged communities.” It boasts of operating in 20 countries on five continents, including Canada.