CCES Blog: Making Sport Better

Welcome to the CCES blog. We’ll be using this platform to share our views on anything and everything related to ethics in sport – from playground to podium. The CCES uses ethical debate to create an environment for meaningful dialogue around the future of sport. We strive to shape the public consensus of how we should behave when we compete, always recognizing that in a democracy, consensus is dynamic. 

The primary contributors to this blog are the members of the CCES executive team (listed below), with occasional entries from other CCES staff:

Paul Melia, President and Chief Executive Officer
Karri Dawson, Executive Director, Values-Based Sport
Jeremy Luke, Executive Director, Sport Integrity

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My Moment

November 21, 2017

We can all think of moments in our life when we received recognition for something we had accomplished – big or small. It feels good. It validates the time and effort we put into the task. As good as those moments may have felt though I’m thinking very few probably compare to the feeling an athlete...Read more

Would Your Student-Athlete Make the Right Call?

October 3, 2017

A teammate is using banned stimulants before games to get an energy boost. If she gets caught, the entire team could be suspended from playing in their school league. A new player on the team is being bullied, but the coach isn’t doing anything about it. A group of friends show up drunk to the...Read more

Is good governance an ethical issue?

July 25, 2017

Is good governance an ethical issue? It certainly can be. When governance of an organization is flawed, this can and often does create conflicts of interest and interference with the ability of an organization to carry out its mission and mandate.Read more

The Sport We Want Places Values First

March 28, 2017

The Penn State child sex abuse scandal is back in the news following the recent conviction of the university’s former president. A jury found Graham Spanier guilty of one misdemeanor count of child endangerment that carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Mr. Spanier...Read more

Finding Solutions out of Scandal

December 8, 2016

Tomorrow morning, Canadian law professor, Richard McLaren, is set to release a second, in-depth report into Russia’s state-sponsored doping regime. In July, his first report sent shock waves through the international sport community. He presented compelling evidence that implicated the highest...Read more

Watching the Rio Opening Ceremonies

August 4, 2016

I love watching the Opening Ceremonies at the Olympic Games. It’s a spectacle like few others in sport. Athletes from countries large and small parade into the main stadium, perma-smiles etched on their faces, many skipping and hopping their way around the track, powered by pride and purpose.Read more

Clean athletes cheated before Games even begin

July 25, 2016

Sadly, I was wrong. I had naively hoped the International Olympic Committee (IOC) would recognize all the unmistakable signs and heed the deafening global call for a ban on Russian athletes competing in Rio. ...Read more

All Signs Point to a Complete Russian Ban at Rio 2016

July 22, 2016

The writing is on the wall. All that remains now is for the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) to do the right thing: the right thing for the integrity of sport, for clean athletes and for everyone else around the world who subscribes to the...Read more

The Time is NOW to Stand Up for Clean Sport

July 15, 2016

It sounds almost melodramatic to say it, but the integrity of international sport is at stake. On Monday, respected Canadian arbitrator and law professor, Richard McLaren, will make public the findings of a major investigation into Russia’s anti-doping system. His probe follows a shocking World...Read more

No, PEDs make sport less safe for athletes

January 19, 2016

“It’s my body. It’s my biochemistry.” These are the words of David Asprey as quoted by Adam Kreek in his article entitled, “Can PEDs Make Sport Safer for Athletes?” Are these the words of a true libertarian or just a person looking to increase his sales in his online business? And while Adam Kreek...Read more

Reflecting on 2015: The Year of Sport in Canada

January 13, 2016

The CCES would like to wish the sport community all the best in the New Year. As we dive into 2016, now is a good time to look back at 2015 and consider the lessons that can be learned. Below is a guest blog post that I’d like to share from our friend Bob Elliott from the Sport Matters Group. Read more

Conflict of interest in anti-doping

December 17, 2015

The FIFA bribery and corruption proceedings, the International Amateur Athletic Federation doping investigation and the Russian “doping scandal” have raised important questions regarding the role of governments, international sport federations (IFs), national anti-doping organizations (NADOs), the...Read more

Bittersweet victory

December 4, 2015

As new doping violations are confirmed against international athletes who medaled at the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games (TORONTO 2015), it’s a bittersweet victory for Team Canada. The Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES) congratulates Zack Chetrat, Alec Page and Rachel Hannah on...Read more

Policies aren’t enough ... ensuring sport organizations are creating safe and respectful environments

November 18, 2015

Creating an environment free from harassment and bullying is a topic that Canadians have found themselves considering over the past year. Sport is not immune to societal trends and incidents of inappropriate behaviour are frequently discussed in sport boardrooms across the country. While the focus...Read more

Mid-term Report on the New Canadian Anti-Doping Program

October 15, 2015

Halfway through the adoption period for the new Canadian Anti-Doping Program (CADP), there’s reason for both optimism and concern. Let’s start with the glass half full: the new program is working. ...Read more

Courage in sport comes in all forms

July 20, 2015A pole vaulter goes over the top

On July 15, Caitlyn Jenner was recognized with the Arthur Ashe Courage Award. This is an award given to an athlete who is willing to stand up for their beliefs regardless of the cost. Caitlyn has brought important attention to the issues surrounding trans individuals and her story will no doubt...Read more

Values-based sport. Why?

July 7, 2015Un entraineur illustre un jeu pour son équipe

All too often we hear of bad things happening in sport. At the same time, we also hear about heartwarming stories of how sport has made a positive difference in someone’s life. We’ve seen how, for example, a world-class performance can be elevated when an athlete demonstrates amazing character in...Read more

Are we standing still or moving forward? (Part 2)

June 23, 2015Les coureurs au large de la ligne de départ

In yesterday’s post, we looked at how doping can impact sport and what led to the “Dubin Inquiry.” In this post, we’ll look at how Canada reacted and where we are today: Canada took Justice Dubin’s words to heart. We were no longer prepared as a country and a sport community to stand still on...Read more

Are we standing still or moving forward? (Part 1)

June 22, 2015Relais coureurs

The cost of standing still versus the benefits of moving forward is well understood in sport. We would do well to remember this tactical advice as we respond to the harm that doping causes to sport. When athletes cheat by doping, they harm themselves, they harm their sport and they harm their...Read more

Dylan receives his due

February 18, 2015A shot-put ball sits lonely on the boundary line

“It just shows if you listen to your coach and you’re dedicated and you work hard, you can do it clean.” That is what Dylan Armstrong, Canadian shot put bronze medalist at the Beijing Olympics, said this past Sunday at the training center in Kamloops, British Columbia where he trains. He made this...Read more