Kamila Valieva Decision Proves IOC Lets Russia Act As Rogue Olympic State

[iemanja]

From Sports Illustrated.

The 15-year-old figure skater can continue competing in Beijing despite testing positive for a banned substance, showing once again that organizers have yet to properly deal with the country's state-sponsored doping. . ..

The IOC originally banned Russia from competition in 2017, then gradually removed any teeth from that decision. In ’18, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) announced Russia was “fully reinstated.” Then in ’19, WADA banned Russia again. . . .

Whether banning Russia in the first place was fair or not, the goal behind it was simple: The IOC had to take a stand against state-sponsored doping. But it has done so in such a haphazard and incompetent fashion that the goal got lost. Now, here is CAS, essentially ruling that Valieva can continue to compete because this is probably just state-sponsored doping. She is just a minor and therefore “protected.” . . .

Letting RUSADA [Russian Anti-Doping Agency] decide the standard is like letting mob bosses make racketeering laws. But the IOC and CAS have repeatedly given Russia the latitude it does not deserve. According to the International Testing Agency, Valieva submitted a test on Dec. 25 during the Russian national championships. Her sample was not run until Feb. 7, after she won gold here.

No paywall: https://www.si.com/olympics/2022/02/14/kamila-valieva-decision-cas-let-russia-act-rogue-state

[Irish_Dem]

1. The IOC lets Russia be a rogue criminal state.

A rogue state which drugs child athletes to win.

[Skittles]

2. I see this young girl as a victim

she has no say in any of this

[Irish_Dem]

3. Yes but she must not be allowed to skate, it puts other children at risk

If she is allowed to skate, Russia will keep targeting other kids.

The children could say no, but their parents might lose their jobs or house.

Yes she is a victim. The kids are told they are taking vitamins.

But many of the parents know what is happening, because their children become ill with this specific coach.

[LisaL]

4. She is going to be skating.

Competition is tomorrow at five am.

[iemanja]

6. Johnny Weir and Tara Lepinski

who both skated young said that you are aware of what you put in your body from a very young age because you're constantly being tested. I don't give Valieva a pass on this, though certainly the adults who made the drug available to her are responsible.

[Sogo]

5. I wonder how many threats the members of those governing boards get from Russia.

I'm serious....

[iemanja]

7. Seems like too much of the world

Lives in fear of Russia, particularly Europeans.

[radius777]

10. Bingo. As FDR and Churchill demonstrated

the only thing that can counter authoritarians is overwhelming force, or at least the threat of it.

Putin/Russians are waging war on the West, and view our 'rules' and values as a weakness.

The Europeans are in denial about Putin - and should not be treating him as a 'normal' leader.

[dalton99a]

8. At Olympics and beyond, getting away with it is Russia's way

https://apnews.com/article/winter-olympics-russia-getting-away-with-it-60f7e4f7c54ae3fe65d966ff5a159e9b

At Olympics and beyond, getting away with it is Russia’s way
By BRIAN CAROVILLANO and TED ANTHONY
February 11, 2022

BEIJING (AP) — Be it sports, politics, hacking or war, the recent history of Russia’s relationship with the world can be summed up in one phrase: They get away with it.

Vladimir Putin’s Russia has perfected the art of flouting the rules, whether the venue is the Olympic arena, international diplomacy or meddling in other countries’ elections from the comfort of home. And it has suffered little consequence for its actions.

At the Beijing Winter Olympics, Russia the country isn’t here — technically. Its athletes are competing under the acronym ROC, for Russian Olympic Committee, for the second time. The national colors and flag are banned because of a massive state-sponsored doping operation that goes back to the 2014 Sochi Games, which Russia hosted. ...

“The thing in Russia is that cheating is acceptable if you don’t get caught,” Alperovitch said. “Shame on you if you do. But if you think you can get away with it, go for it.”

[iemanja]

9. That about sums it up