Daina and I have marginally been following the Olympics. We watched the short program of the ice dancing the other night, pleased to see that our favorite French couple was as good as ever. There is something really special about Gabrielle Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron that moves us each and every time. So happy to see they won gold today!
However, we were both bemused that the young Russian ice skater, Kamila Valieva, was reinstated despite what seemed a rather obvious case of doping. Very curious what these "exceptional circumstances" are. Maybe the IOC worked out a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine?
I was reading an article the other day where Russian super-coach Eteri Tutberidze has a history of "one and done" with young figure skaters, pushing them beyond the breaking point to achieve extraordinary results. This includes the use of the illicit heart medicine trimetazidine, which is supposed to give athletes greater stamina. This probably results in skaters being able to spend more time out on the ice, allowing them to perfect the incredible "quad" that Kamila did in her short program. It was a first for a woman in the Olympics. Eteri has been producing these wunderkids for Russia since 2014, helping to reclaim the country's former glory on ice. However, these girls, rarely more than 18, are never heard from again after winning their gold medals. Retired and forgotten, with the next young superstar garnering all the attention.
All this occurs with the threat of war looming in Ukraine, as it did 8 years ago when Russia hosted the Winter Olympics in Sochi. Afterward, it was revealed that Russia had instituted a massive doping regiment that greatly aided them in achieving their massive medal haul. Not satisfied with Olympic glory, Putin invaded Ukraine just the same, annexing Crimea and leaving Donbas a festering sore spot for nearly a decade. Now, he wants to finish what he started, annexing the disputed region and/or putting a Ukrainian government in place that will be more sympathetic to Russian interests. Whatever the case, other countries are pulling all non-essential diplomatic staff out of Ukraine, as many think an invasion could be as early as Wednesday.
It would have been nice to think that the International Olympic Committee got something out of the deal they struck with the Russian Olympic Committee, as anyone else who tested positive for an illicit drug would have suffered a lengthy ban. The IOC apparently felt this would have caused "irreparable harm" to the teenager, but then what is she doing there to begin with. Typically, an athlete has to be at least 16 to compete the Olympics and Kamila is only 15.
Worse, the incident points to the fact that Russia is still using doping to augment their athletes' performances, and there seems to be no age limit in this regard. It is not so much Kamila who should face harsh penalties, as it is her coaching staff, which obviously gave her this drug to begin with. Yet, Russia is allowed to compete under the ROC banner head, making a mockery of the ban that has been in place since 2016.
In Rio, the entire Russian track and field team was banned from Olympic competition due to widespread doping. Mariya Lasitskene, the reigning world champion high-jumper, subsequently trained abroad to avoid any further taint so that she could compete in international events and the 2020 Olympics, held in 2021, where she won gold. She was highly critical of the Russian athletic program, saying that athletes were forced to take drugs whether they wanted them or not. So, she tried to keep her distance.
The situation hasn't improved, but the IOC has chosen to be more lenient with Russia largely to avoid any further confrontation. As is to be expected, Putin has denied all allegations of a statewide doping scheme, despite all the evidence presented, including sworn testimony from the doctor who administered it. One wishes the Olympic committee would go so far as to broker a deal with Russia over Ukraine, but that is highly unlikely. Russia represents a sizable Olympic market and the IOC doesn't want to further damage that relationship. Unfortunately, these young athletes get caught in the crossfire. Enjoy Kamila while you can because she won't be around much longer.
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