Banned swim coach finally turned away from pool

The scene at Oakville city council this week strained credulity: Parents from the Dolphins Swim Club claiming it was a violation of human rights to strip the organization and their kids of their prime pool time.

The reason the Dolphin Swim Club is in this predicament is because of their continued association with coach Cecil Russell (at right), who is serving his second lifetime ban.

In case you don’t know Russell, here are some things you won’t find on his coaching curriculum vitae:

x- He was banned for life from coaching in Canada in 1997 for his involvement in an international steroid trafficking ring.

x- At the 1997 murder trial of one of his steroid trafficking associates, Russell admitted helping burn and dispose of the victim’s butchered body in a corn silo beside his Oshawa home.

x- Russell pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possession with intent to distribute ecstasy in 2003 and spent four years in prison in Spain and the U.S.

x- He managed to get his lifetime coaching ban lifted in 2005 by claiming he’d been exonerated in the ecstasy case, but was banned for life a second time in June 2007 after American authorities unsealed documents after a front-page Saturday Star story showed Russell had likely misrepresented the case.

But Russell has continued to coach ever since  while essentially thumbing his nose at the seemingly powerless swim authorities. It’s a black cloud that hangs over Canadian swimming.

But finally this year after another complaint, Swim Ontario moved to take action and the Dolphins Swim Club cut a deal with them on a five-month suspension which kicks in Jan. 1, 2012. The Dolphins also agreed to pay $2,500, the first fine in Swim Ontario history.

The Dolphins started a probation period in September and are no longer a member in good standing of Swim Ontario. As a result, the City of Oakville removed their preferential pool time and left them with only three hours during school time.

Hence the aggrieved parents, one of whom went as far as to say Monday night before council that her child’s human rights were being violated.

“Please keep in mind the impact your decisions may have on shaping their values and views,” she told the council.

Umm, these parents might want to consider that themselves. Just what message are they sending to their children?

“It always comes back to the question: Why aren’t the parents respecting the lifetime ban?” said Paul Melia, ceo for the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport. “Why are they continuing to take their children to this individual?

“And I guess we know the answer. This individual has obviously been able to convince them he’s been unfairly treated and they believe him to be a very successful and effective coach and they want their kids coached by him. These parents are flaunting that sanction. That’s probably the most disturbing part from our point of view.”

Mayor Rob Burton has been pretty clear on what it will take for the Dolphins to get their pool time returned in Oakville: Stop associating with Russell.

“I don’t think I can be any clearer,” said Burton.

This isn’t over. Not by a longshot.

The Dolphins have 10 swimmers trying to make the Canadian Olympic team, including Russell’s son Colin and daughter Sinead, who was a finalist in the women’s 100-metre backstroke at this year’s world championships. Sinead is training at the national centre at the University of Toronto at the moment.

Dolphins coach Erin Russell, Cecil’s wife, says they’re concerned about the situation but didn’t want to comment further.

“Sorry it will have to wait till court,” she said in an email. “Will send dates you understand then the truth will come forward.”

We’ll see about that. Right now, it appears it's the Dolphin parents who can’t handle the truth.

 

Comments

[diana]

Thanks for doing this story, Randy.
Amazing what parents will allow.
Can't they READ???
Can't they ASK?
Can't they say NO?

[Dolphin Parent]

I am a parent of the Dolphins. Never has Mr. Russell coached my daughter. Erin Russell, Coach Wendy and Coach Leo are the only ones who are in contact with my child. We were a member of the "other " swim club in Oakville and we were treated like a #. We were just a source of additional income another body. In the three years my daughter swam for them she was NEVER given the individual attention she receives on the Dolphins. All the children are treated with the same committment. So yes I can read, and yes I did ask and we have decided our family will continue to swim and supportthe club.

[Winter sport coach]

It absolutely blows my mind that parents dissregard convicted drug traffiking in this coach's extra-curricular activities, not to mention a ban of practicing the profession for the sake of getting personable service or what ever else drives parents to keep hiring such a person.

What if your favorite dentist was banned from practicing... whould you still go see him or her because they 'threat you well'. Get a nice toothbrush....
What if your family doctor... what about the architect or engeneer building your home was banned from the professional body.... would you still pay for services....

What if your accountant served a life time ban from being an accountant... would you still trust him or her with your money.....

But a banned coach coaching your child is ok eh!

[Toronto Parent]

But now he has pool time at the Etobicoke Olympium in Toronto.

[Good Riddance]

Well said Winter Sport Coach!

Not the kind of role model I want my kids around - screw authority, do what you want because you can get away with it, cry foul that your being mistreated when you get caught, and then continue to do what you want anyway, etc.

I was SO HAPPY to read this article. Finally some people with backbone have stood up to do what is right!

I have nothing but complete contempt for the man.

[BJ Dillon]

Thank you for the story Randy. I have to believe that the only people still supporting this man are parents of up and coming swimmers who are living vicariously through their children. Hard to believe that anyone would let their child within 100 yards of this man. Turn the tables...if this man was a teacher in their child's school these same supporters would be screaming for him to be fired. When it comes to sports some people lose all their common sense.

[anonymous swimmer]

I think that this coach should not be allowed to be involved in any sport let alone coach a swim team. Swimmers, mostly teenagers, are already exposed to enough negative leaders and I think that we should not allow for any more to continue to teach. If I was the coach, I would be ashamed to even walk out of my front door let alone coach a group of potentially successful youth. As a swimmer from another club in Ontario, I am disgusted that people like this are even allowed into the profession.

[John Bar]

What an awful thing to show your child that it is OK to flaunt their nose at the rules when they feel like it. If this is a non profit club the parents should vote out the board members who allow this man to coach the children. I dont care how effective the coach is, the end does not justify the means.

[Disgusted with some parents actions]

You don't really want to go there with a board of parents. More times than not many of the members could care less about the ALL the kids. They only act for their own individual kids and take action to please what their kids want.

[Tired of Seeing Cecil's face on deck and in the stands...]

@ Dolphin Parent - You are either willfully ignorant of the facts or completely delusional. There is no way that Swim Ontario could have taken the steps that it did, exceptional sanctions and fines the likes of which never seen in this province, without significant facts to back up the claims. Open your eyes and stop willfully putting your child within reach of someone that the WORLD swimming community has made every effort to get away from kids.

I'm not sure that any proof will solve the cognitive dissonance you and the other dolphin parents so carefully cultivate. But maybe that PB at youth cup will make it worthwhile, right?

As an aside, shame on any of the clubs inviting dolphins club to your invitational meets. You are complicit in Cecil and Dolphins flaunting of the law. I'm looking at you Etobicoke Swimming.