American track and field sprinter Sha'Carri Richardson called out the double standard ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) for a Russian figure skater being eligible to compete after failing a drug test.
Mediators ruled that Kamila Valieva–the 15-year-old skating on behalf of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC)–could skate in the women’s individual event during the 2022 Winter Olympics.
She was granted eligibility despite a positive test result dated December 25, 2021, for trimetazidine–a performance-enhancing drug listed in the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) prohibited substances list.
I\u2019m sorry, but Sha'Carri Richardson was banned from competing in the Olympics because of weed. If the IOC lets Kamila Valieva (and ROC) keep her Gold and compete after using a PED, we got problems.pic.twitter.com/mVSUunAq6V— \u270c\ud83c\udffcAndy Splatz\u270c\ud83c\udffc (@\u270c\ud83c\udffcAndy Splatz\u270c\ud83c\udffc) 1644506584
Richardson, on the other hand, was denied the chance to compete in the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo entirely after the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) had suspended her for one month when she tested positive for THC metabolites.
Like the trimetazidine found in Valieva's test sample is on WADA's list of prohibited substances, so are THC metabolites–the intoxicant in marijuana.
But unlike trimetazidine, THC is not used for boosting athletic performance–a fact that did not go unnoticed by social media users.
Sha\u2019Carri Richardson: Tests positive for pot (which is not performance enhancing)\n\u2022Banned from Olympics\n\nKamila Valieva: Tests positive for Trimetazidine (which increases blood flow to heart)\n\u2022Approved for Olympics\n\nI can\u2019t qwhite put my finger on the difference herepic.twitter.com/kZhJjWIfhI— Qasim Rashid, Esq. (@Qasim Rashid, Esq.) 1644846643
After Monday's CAS ruling on Valieva being eligible to skate became public during the medal ceremony for the team figure skating competition—despite her positive drug test result prior to the winter Games—Richardson took to social media and called out the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and CAS for hypocrisy.
Richardson tweeted:
"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."
She added:
"The only difference I see is I’m a Black young lady."
People in support of the U.S sprinter weighed in on the controversy.
Somebody please explain to this Black woman why she was disregarded and this already-suspect Russian figure skater is allowed to compete. Nobody can give Sha\u2019Carri a legitimate reason.— Notyourmomma (@Notyourmomma) 1644848540
Exactly what I said this morning! Plus you tested positive for a drug that is not performance-enhancing and is legal in many states! So frustrating to see this double standard. Just know that many people support you still— Nora Adams (@Nora Adams) 1644844500
The difference I can see is her substance was actually performance-enhancing and could give her an advantage over her competition, i.e. cheating. Yours was not.— Myron B. Pitts (@Myron B. Pitts) 1644844778
Wow smh @itskerrii is 100% validated in feeling this way. We need answers IOC. Racism is a global phenomenon. https://twitter.com/itskerrii/status/1493209274457153536\u00a0\u2026— Bryce Gaylor (@Bryce Gaylor) 1644845827
One of the most pernicious parts of white supremacy is the way it humanizes & extends grace to some while demanding impossible standards of perfection for others. The margin for error is razor thin for you not so much her.— Erika K Wilson (@Erika K Wilson) 1644847322
Racism + Corruption: working together in hypocrisy for hundreds of years!— eMa (@eMa) 1644871166
Sadly, I think it's because she may have had a legit prescription? But cannibis is legal and DOES NOT alter performance.\nYour decision should have been reversed.\nBack when pot was "bad* they ban you as a message to kids. But it's no different than having a beer.\nIt's your right.— jara matthews (@jara matthews) 1644940637
In determining Valieva's ruling to compete in the women’s individual event, the CAS noted they “considered fundamental principles of fairness, proportionality, irreparable harm and the balance of interests.”
The Daily Dot mentioned those factors included Valieva's age, how at 15 she is still considered a minor and she is classified as a "protected person."
In any case, the IOC did issue a statement indicating the young skater will not get a ceremony in the event she wins until the matter is resolved.
The statement read:
“Should Ms. Valieva finish amongst the top three competitors in the women’s singles skating competition, no flower ceremony and no medal ceremony will take place during the Olympic Winter Games."
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