SHA’CARRI RICHARDSON QUESTIONS WHY KAMILA VALIEVA IS ALLOWED TO COMPETE IN BEIJING OLYMPICS AFTER FAILED DRUG TEST
Kamila Valieva, a 15-year-old Russian skater, was permitted to compete in the Beijing Olympics, even after failing her drug test. According to the test reports, she was tested positive for a banned substance.
CNN reported that Richardson compared the 15-year-old skater’s situation to her last summer in the Tokyo Olympics.
Sha’Carri Richardson, who was disqualified from the Tokyo Olympics over a positive THC drug test result publicly showed her frustration with the decision to still allow Valieva to participate in the sport. Richardson couldn’t help, but to speculate that she was banned due to her race.
Valieva’s drug results were obtained from a Swedish laboratory. On Feb 8th, the Beijing Olympics suspended Kamila, which was lifted on Feb 9th. Moreover, the World anti-doping agency and the International Olympic Committee appealed for a decision review. The CAS rejected this appeal.
CAS has listed various exceptional circumstances that acted as a reason for their rejection. According to them, her age categorizes her under the ‘protected persons’ list. In addition, the panel argued that the ban would cause harm to the athlete, which would prove to be irreparable.
However, the International Committee announced that Kamila would not be allowed the honor of holding a medal or flower if she achieved the top three positions in the competition.
Sha’Carri, who also tested marijuana positive last summer in the Tokyo Olympics, tweeted on Monday morning that she has been banned for the same reasons. However, THC is not at all a performance enhancer or booster. She even takes full responsibility for her test results, owns her mistakes, and thinks Kamila Valieva should do the same.
Can we get a solid answer on the difference of her situation and mines? My mother died and I can’t run and was also favored to place top 3. The only difference I see is I’m a black young lady. https://t.co/JtUfmp3F8L
— Sha’Carri Richardson (@itskerrii) February 14, 2022
In a television interview, she pleaded with the viewers not to judge her as she was human. She condemned the Olympic Committee standards and demanded a solid answer for allowing Kamila Valieva to continue to compete in the Beijing Winter games even after testing positive for a banned drug.
