February 27, 2018 (Pyeongchang, South Korea) – The Russian doping fiasco remains a dilemma for the IOC, FIS, the IBU and for athletes like Canada’s Alex Harvey. Two Russian athletes under the OAR banner were expelled for doping infractions at PyeongChang 2018, while relatively unknown OAR skiers won medals.

Harvey’s Olympic dream of winning a medal for his country was extinguished in the men’s 50km CL as Russian skiers, Alexander Bolshunov and Andrey Larkov, both OAR athletes, won silver and bronze respectively ahead of the Canadian, who ended up just off the podium in fourth.

Canadian fans wonder if their boy wonder is destined for a similar fate as fellow Canuck, Beckie Scott, who won bronze at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games, that became gold after a two-year battle when both Russians ahead of her, Olga Danilova and Larissa Lazutina, were disqualified for doping.

“It’s one of the reasons it’s so hard to be fourth, with two Russians ahead of me. I’m not going to lie,” Harvey told CBC. Both OAR athletes who finished ahead of Harvey were coached by Yuri Borodavko who has a history of doping violations and received a two-year suspension in 2010 for doping violations.

The Russian state-sponsored systematic doping scandal is now well-known and documented in the film Icarus. Of the 168 athletes allowed to compete as OAR athletes at PyeongChang 2018, twelve were cross-country skiers.

While the OAR athletes finished well down in the medal count, CBC Karin Larsen’s report on the crying shame of Harvey’s fourth, points to the dilemma all other athletes still face. The National Post’s Steve Simmons suggested the ban demonstrated that the Russians can’t win on an even playing field – not accounting for Harvey’s fourth – before blasting the IOC for being “clumsy” and “weak.”

As the controversy continued, the Institute of National Anti-Doping Organisations (iNADO) in an open letter, called on the IOC to exercise its authority to maintain its sanctions against the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) including not to allow the ROC to participate in the PyeongChang 2018 closing ceremonies.

The IOC ruled against allowing the Russian flag to fly during the closing ceremonies.

Meanwhile the United States, Canada and Czech Biathlon Federations will boycott the IBU World Cup final in Tyumen, Russia, in March to support clean athletes.

The Russian doping saga continues and there are still many in the international community who believe that the doping is far from over and are trying to take a stand.

For Harvey his Olympic dream is over, for now. He’s had an illustrious career and will compete for another season before calling it quits.

CBC report here.
National Post report here.
iNADO Open Letter here.
Biathlon boycott here.