Kamila Valieva, the Russian figure skating star at the center of a doping scandal, will be allowed t

[RandySF]

Link to tweet

?s=20&t=wos3NWYsM1Xz6850srwdbA

The New York Times
@nytimes

Breaking News: Kamila Valieva, the Russian figure skating star at the center of a doping scandal, will be allowed to continue competing in the #Beijing2022 Olympics. https://nyti.ms/3sI4sad

[Greybnk48]

1. I think this is a mistake that will further taint the Olympics.

There just seems to be perennial cheating of one sort or another in figure skating. Drugs and crooked judges are most prevalent, and here we go again.

This skater may not have qualified for the Olympics without the performance enhancing drug she was given to oxygenate her heart. It's just not fair.

[WarGamer]

3. It's really a pity...

She's an exceptional athlete and has already made history at the Olympics. She'll always have a well deserved asterisk next to her name.

[Pachamama]

2. Bad decision for credibility of Olympics

[Hekate]

10. ❤️ Here's a heart! I ran out before I saw you, Pachamama

[hatrack]

20. Wasn't aware they had any left . . . .

[TexasTowelie]

4. They should record any medals that she wins with an asterisk.

They might as well eliminate the anti-doping rules if they aren't going to enforce them. They may not have sufficient grounds to take away the team medal awarded to the ROC, but she shouldn't be allowed to compete in the individual event now that the information is public.

[BlueCheeseAgain]

5. Allowed to compete does not mean cleared of wrongdoing

The Court of Arbitration for Sport only said that she can still compete pending any investigations into her positive result. Any medals awarded may still be rescinded.

[FelineOverlord]

6. Putin made some "donations"

To certain people.

[JI7]

8. More likely he promised to defend China on certain things against critics

It's sad what the olympics have turned into.

[Irish_Dem]

25. Putin is an ally with China. There was never any doubt about outcome.

[WHITT]

7. That Test Was Back In Dec

I've been wondering if it might have been a false positive, as every subsequent test has been negative.

[LisaL]

16. There is a second sample (sample B) that hasn't been tested yet.

It could be used to confirm (or not) the results from sample A.

[Irish_Dem]

26. Russia has a huge, sophisticated, successful doping program.

This coach is well known to dope child athletes.

Highly unlikely this athlete was never drugged.

[LisaL]

29. Well known by whom?

No other athletes of hers tested positive as far as I know.

[Irish_Dem]

31. Russia has been banned from the olympics since 2018 for widespread doping.

Their doping program has been well known for decades.

That is why they have to use the ROC title. It was a way for Russia to get around the ban.

If you goggle "Russian doping" it will break your heart to see what the Russian coaches do to kids.

[LisaL]

33. You claimed that particular coach is known for it, which is false.

NT

[Irish_Dem]

37. Eteri Tutberidze has a bad reputation. The children have eating disorders, injuries, drug issues.

[LisaL]

40. I know she has a reputation for producing skaters with very short lived careers.

This is the first time that I know of that one of her student's had a positive doping test.

[RobinA]

52. Sophisticated Dopers

know how to benefit from doping while not getting caught. Not saying any one person is a sophisticated doper, but the Russian Olympic program in general was discovered to have quite the elaborate scheme going in Sochi.

Personally, Russian female figure skaters showing up suddenly and en masse doing multiple quads in a program when other female skaters were barely doing quads at all was a bit of a red flag. I could have been wrong. Apparently I wasn't.

[Celerity]

48. There was a 6 weeks delay due to the lab at Karolinska (here in Stockholm)

being extremely backed up due to COVID (including many staff out) As an aside, it is part of the same Karolinska University Hospital system that my wife and I do our experimental vaccine trials at.

If the test had been done more quickly, the skater, due to her status as an age-protected person, would have never been publicly identified, received a warning only, no ban, and the doctor who gave her the heart medication banned for life unless there was a legit reason for giving her the heart drug.

[LisaL]

49. And the rules say tests must be done within 20 days.

This one clearly wasn't. Is it even admissible? Clearly the rules weren't followed by the laboratory (which, like you said, is located in Sweden).

[Celerity]

50. It is a complete mess, and politics and Russia's incredibly poor history of doping are also involved

I do not see any sort of remotely satisfactory outcome being sorted until after the Olympics (likely via CAS), and even then, IF she is found not guilty, she will have been denied her gold medal ceremonies (assuming she wins the individual, or ceremony, if the only gold was for the team competition).

The key issues/questions IMHO are

1. Why, after full investigation, was her test really delayed? (all we have is conjecture at this point)
2. Was it a false positive? (the 2nd sample will tell)
3. Has she tested clean ever since? (another poster mentioned she had)
4. Why, as an age-protected 15yo, was her name now made public?
5. IF she is found not guilty, will her medal(s) be awarded?
6. If she is found guilty, will she then be treated like a normal age-protected person would be (too late for her name not being released) and simply reprimanded (the the doctor banned for life), or will she now be banned (likely for years I would think) as if she was not age-projected?
7. IF she is found guilty, AND simply reprimanded (which would not have affected her eligibility for this Olympics), will her medals stand?

[LisaL]

51. She had definitely tested clean since then, at both Europeans and Olympics.

Lab claims test was delated due to their personnel having covid. Not sure if I believe that. Seems like the result was released at the most unfortunate time for the 15 year old and the rest of Russian skaters (after winning the team gold medal).
Her name is already out in public, so she was not treated as an age-protected person. Which can not be undone.

[RobinA]

53. You Seem To Be

applying rules of American court to IOC drug testing. Admissible?

[FelineOverlord]

9. This was only for doping by CAS

Apparently because she is a minor? She is a “protected person.”

It’s her coach that is notorious for not allowing her athletes enough food and WATER. And whatever else it takes.

Any medals won could still be rescinded.

What a mess.

The US Olympic Committee:

Link to tweet

[LisaL]

11. The pressure on this girl is going to be enormous.

Hard to imagine how she could successfully compete.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

13. Pressure? There are pills for that. nt

[LisaL]

14. Do tell.

A lot of people could use those.

[Irish_Dem]

28. The Russians dope children on purpose because they are a protected class.

Protected class means the kids just get reprimands when they test positive.

So the world is encouraging Russia to drug children, commit child abuse and endangerment.

[RobinA]

54. Well, One Thing

that hopefully will come out of this is No Children In The Olympics. Without the age issue, this situation would be more easily (maybe not easily) resolved.

[Irish_Dem]

57. Very excellent suggestion.

Absolutely, no children in the Olympics is one great direction.

[AngryOldDem]

12. Russia wins again.

Some consideration must be given to her age. She’s 15. BUT…the message still needs to be sent that doping is wrong and dangerous, the affront to sportsmanship and competition aside. But giving a drug to a minor — a heart drug at that — gets the usual blind eye.

I am hoping — but not optimistic — that there will be some sanctions against the coaches, at least. What I would have liked to have seen would have been to suspend her from competition for a time, and to send Russia home from these Games followed by a permanent ban. They got away with it once again, even after being allowed to compete as the “ROC” under a neutral flag — a huge concession to prior cheating.

But here is the true tragedy. In 2018, there was another Russian wunderkind who dazzled on the ice, was talked about constantly, and made news when Putin fawned all over her. Remember her? No? Where is she now? Apparently, according to USA Today reporter Christine Brennan, a physically and mentally broken young woman discarded because she is no longer of use. She served her purpose. This is how Russia treats its athletes — like disposable commodities. This will probably be Kamila’s fate, in four or six years.

As much as I enjoy watching figure skating, I’m going to take a pass this week. The conclusion is already foregone.

Bottom line: Either sports takes doping seriously, or it doesn’t. This has become a sad farce.

[LisaL]

15. Four or six years is pretty optimistic.

Apparently after 15-16 most women no longer have the ability to jump quadruple jumps. Womens figure skating has become the sport for very young teens.

[AngryOldDem]

17. Maybe.

She’s 15; she’ll be 19 or 20 in the next cycle. Depending on who’s in the pipeline, she may be good enough to make the team, but not as “competitive” as she is now. She’ll be done after that.

Washed up by her mid-20s.

[LisaL]

18. It is what it is. Figure skating is similar to gymnastics in that regard.

Quad jumps are easier to perform when female skater is 15 than when she is 20. In addition, endless training is very hard on the body, so it's hard to compete for years and years. The way Kamila's coach trains her (and other trainees) would be very hard to keep up with for many years. Back problems, injuries, etc...

[Irish_Dem]

22. When you dope kids, they burn out fast. They die or get sick.

[LisaL]

27. Those type of drugs were legal until recently.

My understanding it is similar to meldonium, which was widely used. Nobody died from it.

[Irish_Dem]

30. Cardiologists are saying this drug is dangerous when given to children.

And these are not the only drugs used on the Russian kids.

This coach is well known to cause illness in children.
Her charges "burn out quickly."

Russia will never tell us how many have died while in training.
Or die prematurely down the road.

[LisaL]

32. They burn out quickly because of intense training they are subjected to.

Also, basic rules of physiology. A female skater peaks at 15-16. It's all downhill from there.

[Irish_Dem]

35. Online you will see stories about this coach.

One mother was terrified about the damage being done to her child with drugs.

She pulled out her child from the skating program, and was punished by loss of house and job. Her daughter is ill to this day from the damage caused.

It is really heart breaking.

The Russian use of drugs in sports is well known for decades.

[AngryOldDem]

41. Parents sign up their kids as young as 3-4.

Sure, that’s done elsewhere, but I doubt the competitive pressure is put on other kids that young.

Sick of hearing about abuse of athletes, be it sexual or being fed dangerous substances.

[milestogo]

23. And they shouldn't be doing quads anyway.

Even triple jumps destroy their hip joints.

[AngryOldDem]

38. That's where the sport's going, sadly.

It’s more athletic than artistic anymore. That’s why Jason Brown will never really be competitive — he is beautiful to watch, but doesn’t do the jumps. Women are trending that way too.

At some point, the ultimate ability of the human body will be reached (unless Russia finds a way around that).

[LisaL]

43. Well, it's a sport.

Jumps are exciting to watch.

[RobinA]

56. Hopefully

this incident will push the age limit up a bit, or God forbid, to 18.

[Efilroft Sul]

19. The IOC makes FIFA almost look saintly in comparison.

[Irish_Dem]

21. This decision encourages Russia to drug more child athletes.

Causing permanent damage and probably some deaths.

Russia dopes the kids because authorities give them a pass.

[LisaL]

24. She is allowed to compete for now.

Sounds like they could take way her medal if she were to win it, if doping allegation is confirmed.

[bullwinkle428]

34. IOC has already decided medal ceremony will be canceled if she wins.

https://www.cbc.ca/sports/olympics/winter/figure-skating/doping-hearing-russian-figure-skater-kamila-valieva-ruling-expected-mondady-1.6350402

[AngryOldDem]

36. That is just sad.

Don’t have her on the podium, but let the silver and bronze medalists have their moment, for crying out loud. No need to penalize everybody. I really despise Russia.

And if they take away their gold from the team competition? Medals for the other three teams may not be handed out for months. As Christine Brennan said, they’ll be in FedEx boxes on kitchen tables in midsummer.

[LisaL]

39. Silver and bronze medalists could very well be Russians too.

All trained by the same coach.

[AngryOldDem]

42. I thought at least Bell had a shot at Bronze.

Still. One more reason why the IOC should not invite Russia back.

[LisaL]

44. I am not saying other skaters don't have a shot.

But it's possible that Russians will win all three medals.

[phylny]

45. And what if the second or third place athlete

isn’t Russian? Or even if they are? They are denied their once-in-a-lifetime chance to stand on the podium.

I feel this way about all areas of life: politics, work, athletics. Let people get away with things and they’ll keep getting away with things. If you have no consequences, why bother obeying the rules?

[LisaL]

46. Competitors in team competitions didn't get their medals either.

Including US and Japan.

[phylny]

47. You're right.

Russia is why we’re can’t have nice things.

[iemanja]

55. That shows her competing isn't legitimate

if they have to cancel the medal ceremony.

I wonder how much she is going to get booed.