Kamila Valieva: Anti-doping Case and Follow-ups

[4everchan]

Look, I just saved myself about 8 hours of online streaming at ungodly hours. I guess this decision is good for the sport as I will be healthier with more sleep and the odd walk out in minus 20 weather.

 

[Alchamei]

I'm quite annoyed about the decision to let her skate tomorrow but reading the decision this is looking increasingly like a WADA heckup as well - why on earth would they not have a regulation to cover this circumstance in their code?

But it looks as though far too many people around the internet are taking this as "CAS has decided Valieva didn't dope" and are running hysterically with that incorrect interpretation, instead of "CAS has decided Valieva can skate until it is determined if she doped". She could still be banned retroactively. Medals can still be stripped. She hasn't got away with it.

Medals can be strriped, yes. But the atheletes who finish second, third and fourth will get their glory stolen. The first two will not experience the victory or silver medal first hand. The fourth one doesn't enjoy the medal at all. Many sposorships or other opportunites might be lost. And even if the doping offender win Gold and will be stripped, they might refuse to return the medal as it has happened with other sportmen from Russia already, so the medal ceremony might never take place if the results change.

In protecticting the minor skater, they just ignored other clean skaters.

 

[Jontor]

I'm quite annoyed about the decision to let her skate tomorrow but reading the decision this is looking increasingly like a WADA heckup as well - why on earth would they not have a regulation to cover this circumstance in their code?

But it looks as though far too many people around the internet are taking this as "CAS has decided Valieva didn't dope" and are running hysterically with that incorrect interpretation, instead of "CAS has decided Valieva can skate until it is determined if she doped". She could still be banned retroactively. Medals can still be stripped. She hasn't got away with it.

Exactly. The investigation will go on. And if there wasn't for the fact that the Swedish lab messed up, we would never have been in this situation. The Russians would have taken care of this prior to the games.

 

[Amer]

Just need to add that I love Valieva’s skating and hope that she continues to skate but with different coach(es).
I certainly don’t want her to have bad press but rather have that aimed at TT and others involved in the doping.
My frustration is aimed at the situation.
Not the skater.

 

[skated011]

I hope America and American media doesn't let this go.

against a 15 year old ethnic minority Muslim girl ? good luck if they'll go after this. It will be about what will be the investigation for this case

 

[skatedreamer]

I'm quite annoyed about the decision to let her skate tomorrow but reading the decision this is looking increasingly like a WADA heckup as well - why on earth would they not have a regulation to cover this circumstance in their code?

But it looks as though far too many people around the internet are taking this as "CAS has decided Valieva didn't dope" and are running hysterically with that incorrect interpretation, instead of "CAS has decided Valieva can skate until it is determined if she doped". She could still be banned retroactively. Medals can still be stripped. She hasn't got away with it.

Yes, they can still strip the medal but in the meantime, the women’s event — and figure skating in general— are tainted, possibly for a very long time.

 

[karne]

I think the issue that I and others have is that the positive test alone should have disqualified her. Which was the case with others in the past. If she's too young to face the same consequences that others have faced, then they definitely need to raise the age limit. Separate rules isn't fair.

But that's the problem mentioned in the ruling. WADA's own code doesn't specify that a Protected Athlete (that is, an athlete under 16) should be provisionally suspended. That's not Valieva's fault!

 

[Flutzel]

I was never one of those who felt that the age limit desperately had to be raised, since it often just felt like people looking for ways to get rid of certain skaters they didn't like. However, if someone is deemed old enough to compete, they have to be deemed old enough to stand up to the consequences if they're found to be doping. You can't have it both ways because otherwise, you're basically encouraging the abuse of minors. Now I hope the age limit is looked at very closely very soon.

Well, anyway, I feel sorry for Valieva. I'm sure Russian media will celebrate her, at least as long as its politically advantageous to do so, then she'll go into the heap with the rest as they present us with the next best women's skater who conveniently doesn't have the doping stigma attached to her. However, the commentary track and subsequent media discussion of pretty much every other channel in the world is going to question and disparage everything she accomplishes in the event and they'll be right to do so (though only as long as they don't attack her as a person, of course).

In the meantime, the integrity of figure skating as a sport is going to drop to below zero in the eyes of casual watchers as they wonder why doped athletes are allowed to compete.

What an Olympic dream.

 

[4everchan]

So what about protecting the minor skaters who did not test positive ?

 

[Seren]

Disgraceful.

 

[Oreo]

I think this was the right decision. The Swedish Laboratory with their slowness of producing these results forced this result. If they produced results earlier in mid-Jan, it would have been Alexandra, Anna and Elizaveta at the Olympic Games, as Kamila would have been disqualified. But, the result being posted during Olympics, is the reason why we are where we are.

Let's not blame the Swedes. Apparently they did not even receive the sample until nearly four weeks later. They took three weeks and one day to come up with the result.

 

[bluemonday]

All minor skaters who will participate in the Olympics should be doped two months in advance. It's not guilty.

 

[Plisskin]

Look, I just saved myself about 8 hours of online streaming at ungodly hours. I guess this decision is good for the sport as I will be healthier with more sleep and the odd walk out in minus 20 weather.

I'll look at quick hits on Twitter and call it a day. I would'nt be surprised if she skated lights out and won. No matter what, her and her coaching team likely knew this would probably be the outcome. Which is disgusting.

 

[Seren]

Also:

Not only did the adult person responsible (which is not Kamila, she’s a 15 year old minor) get away with cheating, they also got away with child abuse.

 

[anonymoose_au]

I'm so confused?! CAS is not known for being sympathetic...Caster Semenya is not allowed to compete because she NATURALLY has higher testosterone. But this is OK?

Figure skating's reputation will be tarnished from this, even worse every Russian skater not just Kamila will be tarnished!

Worst of all Kamila has no doubt been convinced she can keep any medals she wins. But if there's no explanation for TMZ it will be stripped from her in a few months. This will be even worse!

 

[skated011]

All minor skaters who will participate in the Olympics should be doped two months in advance. It's not guilty.

she didn't dope. we will know maybe what Kamilas statement was ir we may not. she has a right to privacy. she spoke under her lawyers. Now this thread will be about bullying a 15 year old.

 

[readernick]

But that's the problem mentioned in the ruling. WADA's own code doesn't specify that a Protected Athlete (that is, an athlete under 16) should be provisionally suspended. That's not Valieva's fault!

Indeed. That's obviously why minors shouldn't compete. Hopefully, the age for all sports will eventually be raised to 18.

 

[yume]

Actually, this is not funny at all. The vultures of social media will be after Kamila from now on.

Yeah. That's why i didn't want her to compete. They will never let her breathe. This will be worse than Sotnikova's case.
Anyway, i hope girl will grab that chance and skate to her full potential. I don't want her to bomb. She can lose most of her senior medals months later but there is at least 0.1% for everyone to be proven innocent. She has to fight for that 0.1%.

 

[Sjs5572]

I've been on restrain but who expected this result when you had a young 15 year old ethnic minority Muslim girl vs three confliction organizations of high power. The Puritans make me laugh

Oh, please. She's competing in the women's division for Mother Russia.

 

[skated011]

Indeed. That's obviously why minors can't compete. Hopefully, the age for all sports will eventually be raised to 18.

ask skate boarding first and sky Brown who shouldn't compete at 13.