After testing optimistic 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 needs to be resolved.
Kamila Valieva is barely 15 years outdated and nearly everybody agrees that in a scenario the place a toddler athlete is doped, it’s the adults who’re accountable. However nonetheless, this nonetheless creates an moral dilemma as there are two statements that the majority are in settlement with.
A) No athlete needs to be pressured to compete towards and/or lose a medal to an athlete who’s at present in violation of anti-doping necessities.
B) If the athlete in query is barely 15 years outdated, she is simply too younger to be thought-about at fault and any penalties needs to be inflicted on her help workers and never the kid in query.
Most readers would agree with these statements and that they’re each the correct perspective to have. However each of those statements instantly contradict with one another and just one can virtually be carried out. Ultimately considered one of these two philosophies needed to be damaged and it was determined to reenter an athlete into the Olympics with a tainted doping report, 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 needed 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’s extra injustice to be discovered.
The one 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 scenario 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 techniques turn out to be widespread because of this case.
However there’s additionally a extra instant dilemma for the athletes who will likely be competing towards Valieva through the 2022 Olympics. Whereas it isn’t 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 ladies’s singles, it might be one of the vital absurd competitions in Olympic historical past the place athletes will likely be competing for a medal realizing the gold-medal favourite might later be dominated ineligible. How is an athlete purported to compete below these circumstances and never let that influence her efficiency? How does an athlete determine how a lot threat to soak up a contest the place it’s unclear precisely who they should beat as a way 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 effectively that there’s a risk 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 power to expertise what is commonly the one most essential second within the profession of an Olympian.
However Valieva’s presence has pressured occasion organizers to cancel any medal ceremony she is anticipated to take part in till this case is resolved. This implies as many as 25 Olympians will probably go dwelling and not using a medal that rightfully belongs to them. Creating the likelihood 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’s not my intent to argue that the choice to let Valieva compete was incorrect. The skaters competing towards Valieva have issues/wants that should be thought-about. However so do the issues/wants of Kamila Valieva herself. This can be a little one who has examined optimistic 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 toddler 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 12 months outdated 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 resolution that’s truthful to all events concerned.
