Kamila Valieva: Anti-doping Case and Follow-ups

[Mafke]

does that mean we can erase the last 4 pages of this thread?

Not a good idea.... it's group therapy and talking every last point to death and back is part of the process...

 

[matin calin]

Hi everyone. I just wanted to make a small remark about Diana vs. Brennan situation. I don't think this is about Diana not speaking English, but her hearing issues. As Draculus has pointed out she relies on lip reading, which is now impossible due to everyone wearing masks. It's Gleb who is doing most (if not all) of the talking in Russian speaking interviews as well. I am not sure if it is ignorance on Brennans part or if she was doing it intentionally to hurt Diana ("can she speak?" to a person with a known hearing impairment), either way, disgusting and cruel.

 

[Draculus]

Brennan is not out to hurt Diana or anyone else. She's a journalist following up on all possible leads

By asking half-deaf girl not in her native language how does she feel that her mother dope someone?
This you call 'lead'?
I would call it 'yellow journalism' an least. My normal reaction probably will violate forum's rules

 

[Magill]

In any case, even if Kamila accidentally took that pill and there is no punishment, Sasha is the Russian champion, and Anya - European, right? Just because of the presence of the banned substance, Kamila's blood

I am not sure about the Europeans - for that I think she would have to be suspended. RusNats is different, though, as this is the competition during which the sample was taken. In the fair world, this title should go to Sasha by default.

 

[ice coverage]

Diana is partly deaf, she relies partially on lip-reading to communicate.

Yes, the lip-reading thing could have been an additional factor in Gleb being the one to field questions in English from Brennan (assuming that Brennan was masked, as she should have been ).
And I will stress that I have no problem with Gleb being the one to speak in English.

(My own brief interaction with Diana/Gleb was in 2019, well before the pandemic and masking.
If anything, I was praising Gleb for helpfully answering me in English on behalf of Diana. I was not saying that Diana did something wrong.)

 

[Amei]

That's a fair doubt to have, and now think of this:

If they decide to leave the Nationals result as it is, the only possible appeals to those podium positions
could on behalf of other girls from Eteri's group

And they would probably never petition on behalf on one of their students against another...

I've wondered that myself, are there a few athletes perhaps not getting fought for here because they are coached by the same coach of the athlete that failed a dope test

 

[Alex Fedorov]

Brennan is not out to hurt Diana or anyone else. She's a journalist following up on all possible leads regarding the biggest story of these Olympic Games. There is a history of Russian doping, so of course that makes the story even more sensational than it would be if another country had an athlete in the same situation. They can't even fly their flag for this reason, remember? While I'm not necessarily condoning Brennan's continued questioning of Diana, I do believe she was just doing her job. This problem was created by Russians/Russian Fed in charge of Kami's overall training, whomever that might be. Those asking tough questions are not the villains here.

Brennan asked Diana the following question:
"Diana, how hard was it to skate knowing that your mother's student had committed an anti-doping rule violation?".
Can you explain how information about Diana skating helps to investigate something?

There is no investigation here, only an attempt to unbalance the girl.

 

[Amei]

I am not sure about the Europeans - for that I think she would have to be suspended. RusNats is different, though, as this is the competition during which the sample was taken. In the fair world, this title should go to Sasha by default.

Suspensions are usually backdated to when the failed drug test was taken.

 

[Draculus]

(My own brief interaction with Diana/Gleb was in 2019, well before the pandemic and masking.
If anything, I was praising Gleb for helpfully answering me in English on behalf of Diana. I was not saying that Diana did something wrong.)

Even without mask, lip-reading your 2nd language is much harder.

 

[mrrice]

Eteri doesn't allow her skaters to drink water during competitions, so changing water bottles wouldn't work.

I saw that some posters think this comment was a joke but, I can assure it's not. As a dancer and coach, when I was dancing, especially during Ballet Concerts, we "Tapered" down on food and liquids leading into an event or concert. My students can drink from the fountain the day of the event and that's it. When you're at this level, you are hyper sensitive about everything that goes into your body. We always hit buffer after the event.

 

[Magill]

Suspensions are usually backdated to when the failed drug test was taken.

Yes. That's why I say she would have to be suspended to have her European title stripped.

 

[anonymoose_au]

It gets worse:

https://twitter.com/cbrennansports/status/1492502188173656068?t=bxJ_4u6mcYRgZlBMfrhIFg&s=19

Look at the smug self-serving dribble.

I'm really angry. This is is a horrible thing that's happened. Not some TV drama, these are young people's hopes and dreams.

It's not for Christine's entertainment or self-aggrandizement.

I pray she never gets anywhere NEAR Kamila.

Maybe question Eteri next time.

 

[Scott512]

I think (or I hope) she will be back in October. So to speak, it will be as if the new age limit had already been in force...

Probably the best case scenario realistically that is.

But you will be sure they will continue their investigations for months. By the way I am not against that because when it's all over I want to have everybody make sure this is a one-time thing only.

Someone asked earlier if this was a Canadian figure skater going through this would we have the compassion for them that we do for KV? I think I speak for this board when I say yes.

 

[Scott512]

Yes. That's why I say she would have to be suspended to have her European title stripped.

What if she tested negative at Europeans and they retest all her samples and they are still negative?

 

[florin]

Diana is partly deaf, she relies partially on lip-reading to communicate.

Even when she communicates in Russian, I always feel that she is little bit shy and speaks haltingly and a little distorted. Here, this crazy journalist pounces on her and demands to speak in a foreign language for her, and about such a delicate topic. She is apparently even proud of her behavior! I saw this news just now and it naturally hurts me. This woman disgusting.

 

[Scott512]

Brennan is not out to hurt Diana or anyone else. She's a journalist following up on all possible leads regarding the biggest story of these Olympic Games. There is a history of Russian doping, so of course that makes the story even more sensational than it would be if another country had an athlete in the same situation. They can't even fly their flag for this reason, remember? While I'm not necessarily condoning Brennan's continued questioning of Diana, I do believe she was just doing her job. This problem was created by Russians/Russian Fed in charge of Kami's overall training, whomever that might be. Those asking tough questions are not the villains here.

Actually you are condoning the badgering of a teenager when she should be asked about her Olympic experience only..

What I don't understand is why this Russian Federation was subject to these two Russian athletes to talking to people who are only going to try to make them look bad and not actually get information

 

[Scott512]

Unless I am mistaken, the ruling on Monday will be only about the provisional suspension (is the suspension of the suspension upheld or overturned?) If the suspension of the suspension is overturned, we won't know the duration of the suspension.

Actually I think you are right and that's what it's about so whatever is decided they were probably be a further investigation for months and then even an added suspension or reduce suspension possibly.

I mean does anyone really think CAS won't suspend this girl? If it turns out they do as we all expect and they did not send her home three or four days ago to be with her parents that is ridiculous. To make her go to the rink every day to practice when there's no chance is shameful especially to do that to a minor.

 

[millie]

All the focus on this tread in the last few posts are about Christine Brennan and about her style of journalism and she is not a nice woman. It’s easy to take the focus of the culprits of this Olympics. The question of doping at the Olympics is the main thing in everyone’s mind. They can’t sweep this under the rug and forget about it. The only thing that camp is sorry about, is they probably got caught. Let’s hope this time they leave the Olympics to the hardworking athletes that work so hard to be the best that they can be without doping..

 

[florin]

I saw that some posters think this comment was a joke but, I can assure it's not. As a dancer and coach, when I was dancing, especially during Ballet Concerts, we "Tapered" down on food and liquids leading into an event or concert. My students can drink from the fountain the day of the event and that's it. When you're at this level, you are hyper sensitive about everything that goes into your body. We always hit buffer after the event.

And again I ask you - do you think it is realistic that skaters will do without water consumption for about four days - a couple of days of training and two days of a short and free program?

 

[moonvine]

So there is a drug that, THEORETICALLY, can increase the performance of training. No strong evidance.

Without a doubt, even in this theoretical construction, the intake of this drug should be systematic and in significant quantities.

In the athlete's sample, this substance was found in trace amounts (again - trace amounts. For example, grandma took a pill and washed it down with water, and then Kamila drank from the same glass) in one two-month sample. No drug was detected in the samples before or after.

And now they are trying to convince me that this is a significant problem, and that her victory and her amazing performances are fake.

For me, all this is complete nonsense and bs. I reject such a system of sports if in it such brilliant athletes as Kamila are subjected to such obviously unfair harassment and attacks by an ignorant crowd.

I hope that this whole system is not completely rotten and everything will end well - Kamila will be allowed to compete, the proceedings will establish that the athlete is clean and honest.

This is a drug that is banned. It isn't only banned in certain amounts. What would be unfair would be if Kamila were allowed to compete regardless of testing positive for a banned drug.

I haven't seen anyone try to convince anyone that her victory or performances are flukes.

But she can't skate when she's failed a drug test. She isn't clean.

I don't think she went searching for this drug or asked anyone for it. One or more adults have failed her. The whole thing is terribly sad.