After testing constructive for a banned substance, it has been determined that Russian determine skater Kamila Valieva will likely be allowed to compete for the rest of the 2022 Olympics. It’s the newest chapter in a extremely uncommon doping case the place there isn’t a straightforward reply as to how this case must be resolved.
Kamila Valieva is just 15 years previous and nearly everybody agrees that in a state of affairs the place a baby athlete is doped, it’s the adults who’re responsible. However however, this nonetheless creates an moral dilemma as there are two statements that almost all are in settlement with.
A) No athlete must be compelled to compete towards and/or lose a medal to an athlete who’s presently in violation of anti-doping necessities.
B) If the athlete in query is just 15 years previous, she is simply too younger to be thought-about at fault and any penalties must be inflicted on her assist workers and never the kid in query.
Most readers would agree with these statements and that they’re each the appropriate perspective to have. However each of those statements straight contradict with one another and just one can virtually be carried out. In the end one among these two philosophies needed to be damaged and it was determined to reenter an athlete into the Olympics with a tainted doping file, permitting her to proceed competing towards athletes who examined clear.
The choice is extremely unpopular, even inside the determine skating group the place followers have lengthy adored Valieva and wished to see her succeed. Whereas followers are disgusted on the prospect of an athlete with an impressive doping violation competing towards athletes who’ve handed the drug testing requirements, there may be extra injustice to be discovered.
The only most alarming byproduct of the Kamila Valieva case is it creates a precedent the place little one athletes are nearly resistant to anti-doping controls. Making a state of affairs the place the youngest and most weak athletes in sports activities may be doped with impunity by their coaches. That alone would represent a human tragedy if such ways turn out to be widespread because of this case.
However there may be additionally a extra rapid dilemma for the athletes who will likely be competing towards Valieva through the 2022 Olympics. Whereas it’s not unusual for Olympic medals to be stripped and redistributed, it’s extremely uncommon for a priority to be raised relating to vacated medals previous to the beginning time of the competitors in query.
If Kamila Valieva presses forward and competes in 2022 girls’s singles, it will be one of the absurd competitions in Olympic historical past the place athletes will likely be competing for a medal realizing the gold-medal favourite could later be dominated ineligible. How is an athlete presupposed to compete beneath these circumstances and never let that affect her efficiency? How does an athlete resolve how a lot danger to soak up a contest the place it’s unclear precisely who they must beat to be able to win?
Think about being the 4th place finisher on this state of affairs? Meaning a determine skater must watch a medal ceremony from the stands realizing full nicely that there’s a chance she’s will later be dominated because the rightful bronze medalist and is about to be unfairly denied her proper to partake in an Olympic medal ceremony. Denying her the flexibility to expertise what is usually the only most essential second within the profession of an Olympian.
However Valieva’s presence has compelled occasion organizers to cancel any medal ceremony she is predicted to take part in till this case is resolved. This implies as many as 25 Olympians will probably go residence with no medal that rightfully belongs to them. Creating the chance that these athletes will solely be honored in what quantities to a make-up ceremony that doesn’t have the identical aura as a “true” Olympic medal ceremony.
It isn’t my intent to argue that the choice to let Valieva compete was incorrect. The skaters competing towards Valieva have considerations/wants that should be thought-about. However so do the considerations/wants of Kamila Valieva herself. It is a little one who has examined constructive for a banned substance. The doping of a kid is with out query a type of little one abuse and to penalize Kamila is akin to penalizing a baby for her personal abuse.
It’s a sickening thought to have and the age of the athlete in query is what makes this case so heartbreaking. The doping of a 15 yr previous is tragic and upon the discovering of such a revelation, it creates an moral dilemma of what to do subsequent when there isn’t a answer that’s honest to all events concerned.
