Sha’Carri Richardson, who missed the Tokyo Olympics after a positive drug test, is calling out the decision to allow Kamila Valieva to continue competing despite a positive drug test. “The only difference I see is I’m a black young lady,” she tweeted.
“THC definitely is not a performance enhance,” Richardson tweeted Monday, pointing out a difference between her case and Valieva's.
She accepted the suspension, saying on NBC’s “TODAY” show at the time, “I want to take responsibility for my actions.”Valieva tested positive Dec. 25, but those results only emerged last week, after she helped lead her Russian teammates to gold in the figure skating team event in Beijing. “Failed in December and the world just now know however my resulted was posted within a week and my name & talent was slaughtered to the people," Richardson tweeted.CAS said Valieva would be allowed to continue competing in Beijing in part because she is a minor and is a “protected person” subject to different rules than adults. It also cited the delay in reporting the test result and the risk of causing Valieva “irreparable harm” by preventing her from competing.
However, the International Olympic Committee says it will hold off on medial ceremonies involving Valieva until the doping allegation is resolved.“Athletes have the right to know they are competing on a level playing field. Unfortunately, today that right is being denied,” committee CEO Sarah Hirshland said in a statement. “This appears to be another chapter in the systemic and pervasive disregard for clean sport by Russia.