from The Star, by Randy Starkman, 21 June 2007

Ex-con coach back at poolside with kids TheStar.com - Sports - Ex-con coach back at poolside with kids

Despite his lifetime ban, Cecil Russell spotted at Burlington centre

June 21, 2007 Randy StarkmanSPORTS REPORTER

Clutching a stopwatch in each fist, Cecil Russell patrolled the pool deck yesterday like he owned it.
His intense gaze may have been borne of defiance: Russell is refusing to turn in his whistle even after his lifetime ban was reinstated two weeks ago.
Russell was convicted of involvement in two lucrative drug rings and testified to helping burn a murder victim's body in a silo beside his home.
Following up on complaints from parents who say they've witnessed Russell coaching despite his suspension, the Star caught the head coach of the Dolphins Swim Club of Oakville in action yesterday at Tansley Woods Pool in Burlington.
Swim Ontario executive director John Vadeika said he also has evidence of Russell coaching despite his ban and called the situation "very disturbing." Vadeika said he will be discussing the issue today in a conference call with Swimming Canada officials and their legal counsel.
Russell refused comment yesterday, but his lawyer Gary Boyd said the 54-year-old Burlington resident is exercising his right to work as a personal trainer and is not "coaching" the kids in the Dolphins Swim Club.
"Maybe we're splitting hairs to some extent, but we're dealing with someone trying to make a living," Boyd said.
Told that Russell could be clearly seen coaching about 15 kids from the pool deck yesterday, Boyd replied: "I suspect he has contracts with all of them. The Dolphins Swim Club has no rules preventing a personal trainer from being on the pool deck."
Paul Melia, CEO of the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport, which fought to have Russell's lifetime ban reinstated, isn't buying Boyd's rationale.
"It doesn't matter if you change the title from coach to personal trainer, Mr. Russell is not permitted to participate in any part of the Canadian sports system," said Melia.
Russell certainly looked yesterday to be fulfilling the same role of head coach he had when the Star visited one of his practices one year ago. He was clearly in charge as he gave out all the instructions, surrounded by a gaggle of youngsters at one point as he mimicked stroke technique.
One swimming parent who saw Russell coaching on Saturday at Nelson Pool in Burlington called it a travesty and questioned the ability of Swimming Canada and Swim Ontario to police the sport.
"It makes a mockery of all the police checks you have to go through to volunteer and to coach," said the parent, requesting anonymity. "This guy can have a lifetime ban and just swats it away. It sets such a bad example ..."
Vadeika, whose organization is ultimately responsible for enforcing the ban, agreed that Russell is making a mockery of the system.
"It's very disturbing," he said. "If people aren't going to follow the rules governing our sport, it means everyone can do whatever the hell they want."
Vadeika said they are trying to clarify just what Russell is allowed to do under the rules of a lifetime suspension. There is also some question about the ability of community pools to keep Russell out. An official with Oakville Parks and Recreation said they are waiting for a directive from Swim Ontario before taking action. A request for comment from Burlington Parks and Recreation went unreturned.
There was concern that authorities would have trouble giving the suspension some teeth when it was reinstated. While Russell was originally banned for life in 1997 for spearheading a lucrative steroid ring, he was seen still doing some coaching in Canada and abroad.
"We all saw it coming," said Vadeika. "We're trying to manage the situation the best we can and get the best interpretation (of the rules) we can."
Russell was reinstated in 2005, but that was voided this month when an Ontario Superior Court Judge ruled he purposely deceived an arbitrator when he claimed he was fully exonerated in an international ecstasy trafficking ring.
A story in the Saturday Star last July prompted an Arizona court to unseal documents showing Russell had in fact pleaded guilty in September, 2003, to conspiracy to possession with intent to distribute ecstasy. The U.S. authorities were concerned Russell was misrepresenting his case.
rstarkman@thestar.ca

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This is outrageous. Here's support for Swim Ontario, Swimming Canada and CCES for his immediate removal from the deck and contact with young people.
Thanks, Randy, for this column.