He was beat by Sergey Kirdyapkin, an athlete since proven as a drug cheat, in the men’s 50-kilometre walk at the London Olympics.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport will wrap up a six-part hearing into Russian athletics this weekend, the final case specifically against steeplechaser Yuliya Zaripova. Australian Olympic chef de mission Kitty Chiller was reported to say Tallent could be immediately elevated to gold medallist. Tallent remains more convinced a final decision would be announced in a couple month’s time.

Justice to this long-running saga would be the title for the Ballarat Olympian. Tallent will have missed the honour of standing atop the podium, singing our national anthem, and all the added accolades that follow for a gold medallist. But he has the chance to step out in Rio as defending champion.

As Australians, the CAS decision seems clear cut. When it comes to an AFL Brownlow medal, the scenario becomes complex and polarising for us. This month was also to have the decision on whether Essendon’s Jobe Watson keeps his Charlie.

We are quick to paint Kirdyapkin as a bad guy. He would be the ultimate villain in an American movie, especially knowing how much Americans love triumphing over Russian nemeses. But Jobe? The Essendon 34 are appealing a Court of Arbitration ruling on their guilt as drug cheats. Should their appeal fail what would make Jobe any different to Kirdyapkin?

All sport at its purist is about ordinary people achieving extraordinary physical feats. The whole premise of sport is in the Olympic motto – Citius, Altius, Fortius (swifter, higher, stronger) – yet for some, this becomes twisted when trying to push boundaries too far. For what? Results. Money. Fame. Titles.

How could any athlete feel truly proud of their achievement, having taken a performance enhancing drug? Athletes at their core are competitors. Cheats will always have to live with the niggle they will never know how far they could have cleanly pushed themselves.

Tallent told Press Box this week that there have been some major races when he pretty much knew the field was tainted. Races when he was on course, pushing himself mental and physically, yet feeling the guy in front was not playing fair. Races like the London Olympic men’s 50-kilometre walk.

Four year on, another Olympic year, and it is hard to fathom Tallent is still pushing for justice. He has been vocal on the issue, sparking a continued social media furore for his call on international authorities to take action.

Tallent is focused on the Rio Games as an athlete and now likely as coach, with younger sister Rachel all-but-confirmed for selection in the women’s 20km walk. He is bringing Rachel into an athletic culture he felt was changing for the better.

As long as there is sport, there will be those who boldly try to cheat it. The only way to help clean up the playing field, all playing fields, is to have the courage like Tallent to call the cheats out.