What's the old adage about lawyers never asking a question where they don't already know the answer? That needs to apply to all these drug tests too.
If you aren't prepared to deal with the result (i.e. your biggest star on the biggest stage at the biggest event could be DQ'd) then do not have the test at all.
Ughhh! I understand that she has more rights as an athlete under the age of 16 but, this is BS. I feel pain for the other competitors that earn podium spots as they will not receive their medals until a later date after a full investigation is completed. Even worse, finishing 4th and not knowing for 6-12 months if you are an Olympic medalist or not when trying to negotiate endorsements that allow you to stay in the sport. Work your entire life to earn that medal and instead of hearing your national anthem, seeing your flag, and getting honored on global TV, you get your reward later and feel fortunate that local "Action 8 News at Noon" sent a camera to document some low level IOC flack give you a gold medal at city hall the following summer.
F*#king Russians! Always with these yerkoffs!
To play Devil's Advocate, what if they conduct a 6-12 month investigation and find that (1) the test was contaminated and therefore invalid or (2) they determine that she was 100% not at fault and she should have been allowed to compete? There is no way to go back in time and give her the opportunity she deserves. They are allowing her to compete and win a medal; they are not saying that the medal may not be taken away at a later date. Sure, it sucks for the other competitors to not have a proper medal ceremony but at least they get the medal they earned. If it is determined that she is completely fault-free, she will never have the opportunity to win the medal she deserves. And, of course, being only 15 MUST factor into this.
I agree with the decision to let her compete. Take their time. conduct a full investigation and determine exactly what happened and who is at fault. They have only had a few days to look into it so far.
This sounds reasonable on the surface, but you are also subjecting her to possible continued doping by her "entourage" and participating in a moral dilemma so she can compete. Possible child abuse, but let's wait and see if it's real? I have taken some youth sports ethic training. Involving kids in moral dilemmas, though often treated as a joke, stood out as very serious to me.
This whole Olympics is a sham. Not even watching the skating after this
ans they said if she wins a medal there will be no medal ceremony not even a flower ceremony. Wait - what?? What about the other two women getting medals?? They don’t get a ceremony?? Such total BS it’s ridiculous
US keeps Sha'Carri out of the games, "ROC" gives the green light to Kamila.
Apart from the fairness considerations, like the song goes about being under age . . . . "If you're under 18 you won't be doing any time." In my opinion, if you want to play in the big game, ya gotta play by the big game rules. There are more-and-more under 16 athletes at the games, fix it.
US keeps Sha'Carri out of the games, "ROC" gives the green light to Kamila.
Apart from the fairness considerations, like the song goes about being under age . . . . "If you're under 18 you won't be doing any time." In my opinion, if you want to play in the big game, ya gotta play by the big game rules. There are more-and-more under 16 athletes at the games, fix it.
Yea, SR is posting about that today. Fair enough. She's said a lot of weird things since her doping allegations so it's hard to take her seriously though.
I am not seeing reporting on when the samples were sent to Stockholm for testing. Also there is no way anyone in the media should be deferential to Russia after what was uncovered in Sochi. If results were later than excepted, it should be presumptively Russia’s fault. Not a mitigating factor.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but the "unnamed Russian figure skater" was the initial report. We only discovered Kamila's identity when a Russian reporter revealed her name. Off to the Gulag for him! Secondly, CAS referenced Kamila as a minor/ "protected person" and that she was not offered enough time since the Swedish lab's Covid issue delayed her results. As mentioned by others, she is being allowed to compete while her suspension status remains in question. Although, her status as a "protected person" under the age of 16 still remains no matter what her "B" sample or the investigation reveals. Simply, CAS may ban or suspend her coaches but leave her untouched. Lastly, this may lead to the IOC instituting an age requirement for future olympians in all sports.
The kid is 15, and has not tested positive at the OG.
I have no doubt that the crap was in her sample, but no way it was intentional doping--and if it was, can a 15-year-old kid be held responsible? No way. She should not be punished personally, and should be allowed to continue to compete.
BUT her coach, the nutjob Tutberidze, should immediately be suspended and barred from any further participation in the OG. Also her "trainer", or whomever controls her vitamins/supplements. They should be banned pending further inquiry, and then banned from involvement for years, if not forever.
How the F to enforce any such ban, who knows.
This whole situation highlights one good reason why there are being age limits discussed, especially in regards to figure skating. They want to raise it to something like 17, I think. That's still a kid, though. I think it should be 18 years to participate in any situation in which you may receive a sanction if you test positive, and that there should be no accommodation for protected classes other than diminished mental capacity. How many athletes there are at this level, who exhibit such diminishment, who knows--but it would make things a heck of a lot easier, and cleaner to administer. The test could be similar to what we use for other things, are they capable of understanding the charges against them and the proceedings, are they capable of participating in their own defense, etc.
This whole situation sucks, but ultimately this is a 15-year-old kid. Just a little kid, who doesn't know SQUAT. She just follows the orders of adults. Child abuse? Quite possibly, but that depends on the individual circumstances and on the individual people. Look what happened with the US gymnasts, geez.
The problem is that girls develop athletically at so much younger an age than they develop mentally and emotionally. This can be true also for guys in some events. The solution might be age limits and strict documentation and evidentiary requirements.
So I was watching last night on NBC when Tirico "broke" the news and the CAS narritive was "because she's 15 and a minor, the decision to ban her might adversely affect her life and well-being"
I mean based on that logic how can any doper actually be held accountable for anything? Given up caring tbh.
but sure, let’s delay everything like the Russians want. Next you’re going to tell me that the Russians aren’t pre-testing their athletes before WADA can.
The Russian dominance in female skating is the equivalent of team made up of Bekele, Farrah, and Hicham. Just a normal concentration of talent, nothing to see here.
The root of the problem is that Russia was never truly banned from international competition. They just completed (as a nation) under various different acronyms. As long as Putin can get away with something, he will continue to do it.
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