Russell Brander was an Australian light-heavyweight boxer who competed during the late 1940s and early 1950s. Brander made his way to the top of his sport in under two years, representing the Royal Australian Navy, and earned a place to compete at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics. After making the long journey to Finland, however, he was not allowed to box after being declared unfit to compete. On the morning of his first scheduled fight, Brander underwent a medical examination that found an eczema rash on his face, with the doctor not allowing him to participate in his match. With little support from his own medical team, Brander was forced to go back to the Olympic Village.
Australia