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Would the IOC reprimand the Canadian coach who helped a Russian skier?

*Editor's note: This is a satire. To learn more about what it's satirizing, please read the story stack below this article.

You knew this was coming: the International Olympic Committee reprimanded Canadian cross-country skiing coach Justin Wadsworth on Wednesday, after he came to the assistance of Russian skier Anton Gafarov during the men's free sprint semifinals on Tuesday. 

"We would say the Olympic competitions themselves, which are a place of celebration, are probably not really the place for such displays of sportsmanship," said IOC spokesman Mark Adams. "We would like to keep that separate." 

Wadsworth's actions were applauded universally, so it's no surprise the IOC came down on the Canadian coach. 

Gafarov crashed early in his run, losing his left ski in the process. The Russian soldiered on, determined to finish the race he'd trained four hard years for. He limped on, slowly, far behind the competition, until Wadsworth ran onto the course to assist him. The two said no words and only exchanged a nod before Wadsworth, ski in hand, fastened it to Gafarov's left boot. 

Wadsworth, an American who lives in Canmore, Alberta, and who is married to retired Canadian cross-country skier Beckie Scott, had no regrets, again saying that watching Gafarov was "like seeing an animal in a trap," and that he had to act.

"I'd do it again, eh," he added.

Gafarov finished the free sprint ranked 12th, thanks to Wadsworth's Canadian kindness, and much to the dismay of the IOC. 

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