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submitted 9 months ago by MicroWave@lemmy.world to c/world@lemmy.world

Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva was disqualified from the 2022 Olympics on Monday, almost two years after her doping case caused turmoil at the Beijing Games.

The verdict from the Court of Arbitration for Sport means the Russians are set to be stripped of the gold medal in figure skating’s team event. The United States finished second and is set to be named Olympic champion instead.

The International Olympic Committee decided not to present any medals for the event in Beijing, where the 15-year-old Valieva was the star performer hours before her positive test for a banned heart medicine was revealed.

CAS said it upheld appeals led by the World Anti-Doping Agency, which asked the court to disqualify Valieva from the Olympics and ban her. A Russian sports tribunal had cleared her of any blame.

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[-] brezel@kbin.social 138 points 9 months ago

i will never understand why anyone lets russia compete in anything. they just always lie and cheat.

[-] bradboimler@startrek.website 36 points 9 months ago

I mean the US and many other athletes have been caught before cheating this isn’t new. Canada the US, Sweden and, Spain just to name a few.

[-] circuscritic@lemmy.ca 107 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

The issue wasn't athletes cheating individually. The issue was that Russia had a state sponsored doping program from top to bottom. That is significantly different than one off athletes, or one off coaches.

[-] Ranvier@sopuli.xyz 77 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

This is not just some random athletes doing it on their own here and there. There was (still is? Who knows) a Russian government run program to allow for doping and help their athletes evade monitoring from anti doping authorities. Likely at least 580 postive tests across 30 different sports covered up. Team USA doesn't even get government funding, let alone a government run doping conspiracy.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/36823453

[-] circuscritic@lemmy.ca 17 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

Saying Team USA doesn't get government funding is inaccurate.

It's not a holistic nationalized system like many other countries have, but that doesn't mean Team USA athletes and athletic programs aren't direct recipients of government financial support.

For example:

Team USA athletes have access to some of the best training facilities and coaching teams in the world, many of which get direct, or indirect government funding e.g. grants, subsidies, tax incentives, etc.

On a side note, that's a great graphic. I was going to mention the hole in the wall in my other comment, but I was too lazy to go grab a source. Kudos.

[-] Ranvier@sopuli.xyz 9 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

You're right, there are indirect ways they get support. They are not directly funded like in many countries though. That's not to say they don't have considerable resources.

https://2021impactreport.teamusa.org/financials-reports-and-disclosures/financials.html#gsc.tab=0

Financial disclosures are even available online.

I was just pointing out other Olympic teams didn't have the very centralized system of state run organization and funding like Russia had that would allow something like what Russia did to even be possible.

[-] nymwit@lemm.ee 58 points 9 months ago

wasn't the big deal with the Russians that it was at the level of the entire organization rather than done by limited specific individuals?

[-] CommanderCloon@lemmy.ml 13 points 9 months ago
[-] circuscritic@lemmy.ca 69 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

Isn't it more racist to act as if being Russian is a singular racial demographic?

Russia is an empire, a decaying one, but still, it's full of a wide variety of different racial groups that aren't Slavic in origin.

Also, when people criticize the actions of the American government, should we all accuse them of being racist towards... Americans?

[-] nova_ad_vitum@lemmy.ca 17 points 9 months ago
[-] rikudou@lemmings.world 126 points 9 months ago

Russians and doping, name a more iconic duo.

[-] Ghostalmedia@lemmy.world 130 points 9 months ago

Russians and killing political opponents

[-] snausagesinablanket@lemmy.world 31 points 9 months ago

Russians and faulty windows.

[-] kyle@lemm.ee 9 points 9 months ago

Russians and killing their own citizens

[-] ChicoSuave@lemmy.world 16 points 9 months ago

Russians and a lack of ethical morality.

[-] PrincessLeiasCat@sh.itjust.works 121 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

Man I feel bad for her. She was only 15 and probably didn’t have much of a say in the matter. It’s the right call, but still, I do feel for her.

[-] brbposting@sh.itjust.works 48 points 9 months ago

Imagine if she coulda won without potentially risking her health with drugs, too.

[-] girlfreddy@lemmy.ca 55 points 9 months ago

She probably had no choice in the matter and trusted her coach and medical team to do the right thing.

Kids in the Olympics is a double edged sword.

[-] brbposting@sh.itjust.works 15 points 9 months ago

Indeed. Shoulda said something like:

Right. Imagine too if she could’ve won even without the drugs she was supplied (by those who may have paid little mind to their potential long-term health impacts on her).

[-] circuscritic@lemmy.ca 48 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

This reminds me of when Trump called a race horse a junkie after winning the Kentucky Derby and being disqualified for a failed drug test. As if the horse was tying off and shooting up in the stable outhouse.

While this child has more agency than a horse, it's not like she had a choice in the matter.

Is it right for her for be DQ'd? Yes, but she's still a victim.

Don't lose sight of the fact that she's was a child made to take drugs by her own government.

[-] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 6 points 9 months ago

This reminds me of when Trump called a race horse a junkie after winning the Kentucky Derby and being disqualified for a failed drug test.

Wait...

Trump literally compared himself to a racehorse yesterday to show how he has good genes (because his uncle was an MIT professor and apparently the brother of a winning racehorse is just as good as a winning racehorse).

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[-] Blue_Morpho@lemmy.world 11 points 9 months ago

It's definitely for the best so a coach doesn't do it to another minor.

[-] Everythingispenguins@lemmy.world 78 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

That took a long fucking time. Opposed to the US sprinter who tested positive for a non-performance enhancing drug (weed) and was giving a suspension just 9 days after initial test results. Keeping her from even going to her games.

This girl had tested positive for performance enhancing drugs and was still allowed to compete. So they could take the next two years to get their shit together. Look I know she was 15 and probably had a choice on where to take them, but that doesn't justify the wildly different responses.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/sports/sha-carri-richardson-could-miss-olympics-after-failed-drug-test-n1272960

Spelling

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[-] Coreidan@lemmy.world 56 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

Ban Russia forever. They deserve it.

The only title they are worthy of is “weak” and/or “cheater”.

[-] urist 6 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

I see you've spawned a heated argument. I know this post is old but I have a different take:

Don't ban Russia. It's just athletics, it's not that big of a deal. All athletes should get the chance to compete even if they live in countries that encourage their cheating. Ban the cheaters and their coaches when they are exposed.

Perhaps ask Russia to pay a fine if they wish to continue to send athletes. This would dissuade them from forcing their young adults/teens to alter their body chemistry.

The Olympics is supposed to be somewhere every country can participate.

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[-] robocall@lemmy.world 48 points 9 months ago

Imagine winning the gold medal two years after you lost it. Imagine trying to explain the celebration party to people and them not caring or believing you.

[-] drbluefall@toast.ooo 18 points 9 months ago

I imagine that does undercut the excitement on some level.

Like, it's an amazing achievement nonetheless, but like... the wind's already gone. Sail's empty.

[-] Rapidcreek@lemmy.world 41 points 9 months ago

Should have happened during the Olympics, but the IOC gave the Russians the win.

[-] themeatbridge@lemmy.world 30 points 9 months ago

Yeah, like you don't get that moment back, standing on the podium while your national anthem plays.

[-] pjwestin@lemmy.world 27 points 9 months ago

I feel really bad for this girl. Disqualifying her was the right move, but I highly doubt a fifteen-year-old representing Russia in the Olympics was given much choice as to whether she wanted to use performance enhancers or not. On top of that, she got four year ban from professional skating, which basically robbed her of her peak professional years. Her career was basically destroyed by something that was, best case senerio, a mistake she made at fifteen or, wost (and more likely) case, something that was forced on her by her trainers/managers.

[-] YeetPics@mander.xyz 21 points 9 months ago

Wow this is the first time ever I've heard of Russia cheating on something because they couldn't win from skill alone.

/S

[-] aniki@lemm.ee 18 points 9 months ago

Boycott these worthless games.

[-] ShittyBeatlesFCPres@lemmy.world 11 points 9 months ago

I strongly disagree. The Olympics are one of the best things humanity does. Are the people running it corrupt scum? Pretty much. But the Olympics are one of the only times the whole world comes together to at least attempt to do something positive.

Also, have you ever watched the 49 kg (108 lb) women’s weightlifting competition? They look like ants lifting multiple times their body weight. It’s fucking awesome.

[-] aniki@lemm.ee 9 points 9 months ago

I'd rather not reward the IOC with my patronage and eyeballs viewing the blatant consumerism and capitalistic nature of what should be a wonderful event. The IOC takes home billions and the athletes get nothing.

Sorry, I vote with my wallet and my principles.

[-] deranger@sh.itjust.works 6 points 9 months ago

I don’t think either of you is wrong. One of you is talking about the concept of the Olympics and the other the IOC.

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[-] Stovetop 17 points 9 months ago

A Russian caught doping? At the Olympics??

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[-] Kata1yst@kbin.social 14 points 9 months ago

Man, all these world class athletes from Russia have these horrible heart conditions at such young ages!

Must be something in the water...

[-] disconnectikacio@lemmy.world 9 points 9 months ago

If you play any game with ruskies you learn this: ruskies always cheating, stealing, scamming.

[-] Gradually_Adjusting@lemmy.world 8 points 9 months ago

Fuck the Olympics, but this is hilarious

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[-] Fades@lemmy.world 7 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

Just another dirty Russian cheater, second only to china’s culture of cheating/theft.

This poor girl was undoubtedly forced into taking the meds, ruining her future.

[-] DerpyPoint@lemmy.world 6 points 9 months ago

I can't imagine how the Canadian team is feeling with their medal chances on limbo over these two years

[-] echodot@feddit.uk 6 points 9 months ago

Why on earth would they try doping? They know that people are tested, I don't get how they think that's going to work. They either need to stop cheating, or they need to get much better at it.

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this post was submitted on 29 Jan 2024
487 points (100.0% liked)

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