Kamila Valieva: Anti-doping Case and Follow-ups

[Jontor]

I also had a misunderstanding there, I thought there were results on the 25th and on the 8th,
but apparently Russia has only been made aware of this on the 8th, which does make me wonder
about their internal testing process, if there even is one.

That's the thing, the international anti-doping organisations don't trust Russia since Sochi olympics so they have to send their samples abroad. That doesn't exactly speed up the process... And on top of that, covid outbreak at the Swedish lab delayed it all.

 

[Fanof]

I read somewhere that the minimum suspension periods for minors are shorter--two months, as I recall.

the minimum is no suspension, just a reprimand
"
Where the anti-doping rule violation not involving a Substance of Abuse is
committed by a Protected Person or Recreational Athlete, and the Protected
Person or Recreational Athlete can establish No Significant Fault or
Negligence, then the period of Ineligibility shall be, at a minimum, a reprimand and no period of Ineligibility, and at a maximum, two (2) years Ineligibility, depending on the Protected Person or
Recreational Athlete’s degree of Fault
"

 

[moonvine]

People have been fighting unjust rules forever. This is one place where the “rules” should be looked at. People allow their livelihoods to be dictated by faceless bureaucrats and have this reverence they don’t deserve.

The Athletes facing consequences is the biggest injustice of all, in my opinion.

Athletes have to go underground because of these rules. These drugs being on some arbitrary list isn’t much of a deterrent.

No, they don't "have to go underground." They can compete clean.

 

[moonvine]

If you didn't know, the athletes can use those medicines if they just give a 'proof' why they need to use those medicines. Do you know what medicine Simone Biles used while competing, or Bobrova, or Bjorndalen etc?

I know Simone used Methylphenidate to treat ADHD. She applied for and received a waiver. Other than that I don't know.

 

[Ziotic]

I can’t fathom how some people believe “it was just one test and they are clean now so it should be fine”

Doping, specifically the type she has tested positive for doesn’t work like that.

The drug was used to help in practices, to practice longer and harder than others can, that is the advantage she was given from these drugs. More run throughs thus more consistency.

Since they are taken for practices they have a system that rids their body of the traces before competition.

Now I don’t for a second think she initiated taking these drugs. She may or may not have known what her team was providing but either way she’s a minor so I in no way think she’s responsible for this mess. I also firmly believe the rest of the team is on the same regime.

Unfortunately for Kamilla the formula didn’t work properly and traces remained in her sample.

There is no way she should be allowed to compete in the individual and her Euro title and team medal should rescinded. Otherwise how can it be fair to other competitors who haven’t broken the rules .

All of this is unfortunate for Kamilla as she was just following the instruction provided to her by the adults she trusted.

 

[moonvine]

Well her stable of athletes has certainly grown and become more and more talented and this may cause her to lose some skaters because regardless of what comes out there will likely be a cloud of suspicion over her skaters. But the bolded statement frankly hurts Valieva in this situation, as that gives some level of reasonable doubt that this was sanctioned/administered by her coaching team considering that Eteri has had the top skaters for years and they've been tested on the international level for years and this is the first time we've heard about 1 of her athletes testing positive for something - which would put this on Valieva and/or her parents. Everyone knows how competitive the ladies field is in Russia and how lucrative success can be, is it really a far-fetched idea that a parent or athlete would seek an advantage over the internal field?

This is absolutely chilling.

 

[badknees]

At what level or classification in state sport or international sport are you subject to drug tests?

And then this could be for years while you are competing?

 

[yume]

Actually, these articles don't list if the samples taken were out of competition or not. But they list Zagitova as being checked once in 2021 when she was not competing.

Interesting that even athletes on hiatus get tested.
Not so surprised since even retired athletes like Sotskova get suspended.

 

[Mista Ekko]

That's the thing, the international anti-doping organisations don't trust Russia since Sochi olympics so they have to send their samples abroad. That doesn't exactly speed up the process... And on top of that, covid outbreak at the Swedish lab delayed it all.

What I mean is, how do I put this?...

it doesn't make sense to me, for a number of theoretical reasons, some already brought
up in this thread, that the Russians wouldn't be on top of how their athletes are testing
for doping.

 

[Fanof]

Some extra blood flow to the heart makes them capable to endure the extreme amount of training. Zagitova said in an interview they sometimes trained 12 hours per day. I am not sure whether it's 100% true but I do think they needed to be doped simply to be able to cope with the workload required by Tutberidze...
And yes, I am afraid the professional life of Kamila is ruined and I feel especially sorry for her becuase 1) I am pretty sure she personally did everything she could to be a brilliant skater (and she is) and 2) if her skating career is ruined than what other career options does she have? Did she have a proper education beside training 24/7?

Does she already have some sponsors? If so, what happens in the next few days/weeks will be very interesting.

 

[Baron Vladimir]

Now I don’t for a second think she initiated taking these drugs. She may or may not have known what her team was providing but either way she’s a minor so I in no way think she’s responsible for this mess. I also firmly believe the rest of the team is on the same regime.

From what i can read, speculations are forbidden in this thread! What you believe and what you don't believe is not important.

 

[Amei]

Does she already have some sponsors? If so, what happens in the next few days/weeks will be very interesting.

yes, she has a Puma contract, some Russian athletic brand and some banking thing (a Vogue Russia shoot was done with Shcherbakova for that)

 

[moonvine]

Apparently for someone who doesn't have angina, trimetazidine allows the heart muscle to recover quickly from exertion - in other words someone could work out more intensely and for longer by using it. This would let them have more practice and be able to do an extremely difficult program without getting tired as fast as someone who's not using it.

Also I think they're pretty harsh about "doping" accidentally or no. Jessica Calalang and partner missed out on Worlds because of a lip balm with a banned ingredient in it, I'm pretty sure the amount wasn't even performance enhancing but because it CAN be used that way no amount is allowed.

Maria Sotskova most likely used a diuretic to slim down for her wedding (definitely not safe or recommended!), in fact since she wasn't competing that's pretty much the only reason her taking that drug that makes sense, but because it's a masking agent she got the same ban as she would have if she had been taking something performance enhancing.

In addition to being tested before/after competing, WADA sends people randomly to athletes houses to test them as long as they are, I guess, not officially retired. Adam has an hysterical story in his book about the last time he was tested and he called them up to tell them he was retiring as soon as the guy left his house.

I guess we will see how harsh they are or aren't. What would be really terrible is if the other athletes from ROC lost their team medal because she skated in the team event. The whole thing is terrible. I hope for a quick and fair resolution for all involved.

 

[Sjs5572]

Just to be accurate, this press release moved the date up to the 7th(though with timezones who knows): https://rusada.ru/news/press-releas...-v-otnoshenii-figuristki-chlena-komandy-okr-/

The time difference between Beijing and Moscow is five hours. It's very possible that Kamila knew before she skated the FS. Especially considering her emotions after she skated. By then, the starting orders had been posted and it was too late to substitute her out. I wonder if RUSADA held up on suspension to allow her to compete?

 

[moonvine]

The idea that "the longer it takes to investigate the more it must be true" is bogus. If anything it means it's all messed up, unclear and not clear cut.

I agree.

 

[jenaj]

the minimum is no suspension, just a reprimand
"
Where the anti-doping rule violation not involving a Substance of Abuse is
committed by a Protected Person or Recreational Athlete, and the Protected
Person or Recreational Athlete can establish No Significant Fault or
Negligence, then the period of Ineligibility shall be, at a minimum, a reprimand and no period of Ineligibility, and at a maximum, two (2) years Ineligibility, depending on the Protected Person or
Recreational Athlete’s degree of Fault
"

Thank you. I deleted my post.

 

[mskater93]

This is exactly how I feel!!!! When you're 15 you are completely reliant on the adults around you. If I were to blame anyone, it would be her coach, her parents, and the Doctor who gave this young girl the injections. When I was 15, if my Doctor said, You need a shot and my parents agree, I get the shot. As for being dragged, sadly, it's her picture that they're splashing all over the papers. Here's another one. https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/wi...igy-kamila-valieva/ar-AATFGzN?ocid=uxbndlbing

Hardly anyone is dragging Valieva for this, and if they are, they are WRONG. However, people who are saying "full acquittal" or just a warning because she's 15 and "doesn't know better" are wrong, too. Unfortunately, she's collateral damage in this situation (either way) because someone was looking for a cheat. If nothing other than a warning comes of this, then you can bet that there will be full scale doping of athletes under 16 for those "win at all costs" trainers in all sports.

 

[NaVi]

Interesting that even athletes on hiatus get tested.
Not so surprised since even retired athletes like Sotskova get suspended.

You can take yourself out of the testing pool if you retire. I think some Russian athletes don't do it so they can receive funds but I'm not sure about that. I personally think that's dangerous and should be discouraged.

 

[Baron Vladimir]

I know Simone used Methylphenidate to treat ADHD. She applied for and received a waiver. Other than that I don't know.

I know the answers, i was questioning people's education/knowledge to debate on the topic in a civil manner by using known facts and not their beliefs and prejudices.

 

[Magill]

Yes and then Tuktamysheva should participate at the Olympics as the 3. Russian competitor...

That is true....