The Russian Olympic team is caught in a nail-biting game of wait-and-see as the International Olympic Committee (IOC) mulls a possible ban on all Russian athletes and delegates from next month’s games in Rio de Janeiro.
It means Canadian athletes who narrowly missed the opportunity to compete in the Summer Games are also keeping a close watch on the outcome to see if this may pave their way to Rio.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has recommended Russia be prohibited from participating in the Rio Games in the wake of a report released this week detailing a widespread, state-sponsored doping program.
The report, authored by Canadian lawyer Richard McLaren, found evidence of an intricate doping cover-up that spanned four years and 28 Olympic sports. The IOC may make a decision on a ban as early as this weekend.
READ MORE: IOC to explore possible blanket ban for Russia at Rio Olympics after doping report
The absence of one of the world’s largest competitors could open the doors for many athletes who thought they missed their shot.
Synchronized swim team captain Marie-Lou Morin said she and her fellow swimmers are trying to switch gears for the possible chance to go for gold.
“I think we’re still not quite believing it,” Morin told Global News poolside in Montreal, after learning she and the Canadian synchronized swimming team may have a slight chance to go to the Olympics. “But I think we’re ready.”
She said there are “plenty of opinions” about Russia’s doping scandal, but right now the team is focused on itself.
“Cheating is never the way to go… I would never do it,” she said. “It’s a really messy situation.”
Morin said this “obviously” was not the way she wanted her team to get to the Olympics, but she said they’re ready to jump in the pool. The team narrowly missed its chance to get into this year’s Summer Games at a qualifying event in March, coming in just 0.7 points behind third-place Italy.
READ MORE: Russian doping report: How Russia pulled off state-sponsored cheating at the Olympics
Buckingham said Synchro Canada is working on a “contingency” plan in case they suddenly have to pack their bags. The opening ceremonies are just two weeks away on Aug. 5; synchronized swimming events get underway Aug. 14. That gives the team a little wiggle room to get together, book tickets and make it all happen.
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“There are so many points. I’m not sure there is a drop-dead date at this point,” she said.
She said the team has already switched gears from summer training to preparing for a major competition.
“We’re gonna go and compete like true Canadians do,” Buckingham said.
“Between jumping up and down and clapping their hands, and the excited anticipation of what might be… they’re competitors at heart and they’re so ready to make this happen.”
While those athletes are taking stock of the shift in their plans, former Olympians say they want all athletes to be able to compete in Games that are fair — and clean.
As athletes gathered in Ottawa for the naming of Team Canada’s flag bearer at the Rio Games, trampoline champion Rosie MacLennan, three-time Olympic medalist Curt Harnett said he wants to see a “level playing field” at the Games.
READ MORE: Rosie MacLennan: Who is Canada’s newest Olympic flag-bearer?
Having represented Canada as a cyclist at four Olympic Games, capturing two bronze medals and one silver medal, he’s now the Chef de Mission for the Canadian Olympic Team. Heading to Rio he wants to know that “clean sport prevails.”
Harnett showed encouragement for the work of in the IOC and WADA to eliminate doping from sports, but he wouldn’t speak specifically to whether the IOC should ban Russia.
“The process of the investigation… I leave in the hands of the experts,” he said. “I really, truly believe that these organizations are working to ensure that.”
WATCH: More coverage of the McLaren Report on Russia’s doping program
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Russian Ministry of Sport was directly involved in doping program: WADA lawyer -
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WADA lawyer: ‘Dirty’ Russian athletes competed in Sochi knowing ‘for certain’ their samples would come back clean -
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WADA investigation finds evidence of ‘state-directed’ doping program in Russian sports -
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WADA chief supports Russia’s ban from 2016 Rio Olympics
With reporting from Mike Drolet.
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