ShellsandCheese

Those two aren’t mutually exclusive - plenty of skaters win gold without mental or physical abuse. Unfortunately, right now the top American women skaters just don’t have the skills or talent to match up with the top skaters from Japan, S. Korea, and Russia. Doping aside, I can objectively admit there is a certain amount of natural talent and skill that some of the top Russian skaters have and they would probably still be pretty ahead of the pack even without cheating to enhance stamina and endurance, etc. (Which again makes it all the more sadder, because they don’t need to do it)

China has no say in this matter and truthfully I doubt they care. They have no horse in this race, if it were the Pairs competition, I’m sure they would have made a big stink. There are plenty of things that are a reflection of China when it comes to these games; but the CAS decision and Valieva being allowed to skate is not one of them. Kamila has no say in that decision and I would argue that if Eteri had any respect for the sport or the girls she trains, she’d change her training methods and clearly the ROC has one concern and that’s winning.

Yeah, I don’t understand why everyone thought a new scoring system would change things; the problem was never about the scoring system - it’s about the people doing the scoring and how scoring was done. I’ve never liked the new system (ditto Gymnastics).

I skipped the Russians but I thought overall this was a pretty good short program; Kaori was amazing! It’s unfortunate that the US Ladies seem to be falling further behind Japan and S. Korea; at this point it seems that it will be someone from one of those nations who will breakthrough and break up the Russian stranglehold. Also, really enjoyed Loena and Wakaba. Here’s hoping Kaori medals, preferably gold.

I love their wishful thinking but if everyone has been able to overlook all of their issues - this isn't going to be the thing that finally makes the IOC be like you are banned. Less we forget that the Olympics themselves are happening in China right now.

Thanks! Sorry, I had read in a few places that she missed the Olympic Trials because she tested positive for weed during a pre-trials competition or meet. I appreciate the clarification.

Also, the USTFA absolutely could have fought harder for Richardson after her positive test - but they were like rules are rules and wouldn’t allow her to compete at the Olympic Trials.

LOL. 115 new world records! Reminds me of some recent Olympic Games 😂😂

I say let her watch it. There are a few dozen competitors; while the Russians were favored - it’s only three in the field. Plenty of other skaters to enjoy and root for.

Who should I root for in Pairs? Not a fan of either of the top two Russian teams and I don’t like Sui and Han either! What am I to do? Ugh. Also, this is exactly the crap show of the Olympics that we’ve building up to for the last few decades. At the same time, the Olympics have survived far worse and I don’t doubt that they’ll survive this as well. In talking to my coworkers today I realized that most people don’t care that much either way and are so used to hearing about doping scandals, they just kind of shrug and move on. One my coworkers recommended a regular Olympics and enhanced Olympics for those that have no problem risking their health for that extra advantage 😂 Exactly! I don’t understand why other Olympic powers aren’t banding together and forcing the IOC’s hand.

Take the 15 year old and the other competitors who have worked hard to get tot he Olympics out of the equation and this is exactly what the IOC, ISU, and WADA deserve. The whole system is a joke and maybe this will finally lead to a meaningful overhaul. Also, I really want to know what the Russians are holding over everyone’s heads. Even the complaints and pushback from the other skating federations has been weak……

I certainly hope not. I think people are sympathetic to Kamila but now there’s a lot of focus on Eteri, I’m sure more dirt will be dug up. The most interesting part about this whole thing is that if not for the testing delay - none of this would have been public and Kamila still would have been competing. Makes me wonder what else is not public knowledge? Assuming the Russians sweep, there will always be a big fat asterisk for the 2022 Ladies Olympic Games.

I’m not surprised at all. It’s likely based on her age and in accordance with existing guidelines (which I’m sure will be changed after this). Here’s hoping that there will be an actual investigation and consequences for Eteri and team…… ETA: Looking like Russia will keep the Team Gold too; like there’s no way they take it away at this point.

The IOC confirmed this days ago. It’s not new news. I have to chuckle at Christine saying it will either be Russia or the US with gold. Duh, either the ROC will keep the Gold or they won’t.

I was thinking the same thing. The Emmy body awarded Zendaya too soon (in my opinion) by giving it to her last year. Doubtful they’d give it to her twice in a row. But anything can happen, although I think Zendaya has moments of great acting, she veers toward under or overacting too much.

Just about Kamila skating in the women’s competition. There were so many balls dropped and so many screw-ups, it’s going to take a while to sort out the team medal situation. I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s allowed to skate and if they keep the team Gold. If her test had been tested in a timely fashion, she likely would have still have been allowed to compete, so there’s that.

No punishment for Russia will be effective, people really just have a fundamental misunderstanding of not the athletes or the individual but the system. So yes, they should have been flat out banned for a few cycles and it should have been acknowledged that just like sanctions, the folks with the least amount of power (the athletes) were going to bear the brunt of it - but them just the brakes. Those in charge are always going to play the victim….. As for Valieva, plenty of blame to go around. First off, whoever was doping her and second off, the lab. There’s just no excuse for a delay of this kind on a Russian athlete during an Olympic cycle. None. Had the sample been tested in a timely fashion, they would have had time to test the B sample to confirm and one of two things would have happened: Valieva would never had been at the Olympics or she would have been cleared as a protected person due to age and that would have been it. Now it’s just a disaster for all involved. Kamila has been tainted, the IOC, ISU, WADA have proven to be a total joke. If one good thing can come if this, hopefully Eteri and her team are banned and the skating age for international competitions should be raised to 18. Okay, I guess that’s two.

I can’t wait for the rest of the competition. This scandal actually has me interested in the figure skating competition and truthfully, I wasn’t really interested in these games at all before. Ice Dancing and Pairs are likely going to be really interesting - and I’m still shook; who could ever guessed that there would be a doping scandal and not judging scandal in figure skating.

In theory but results can be voided for up to ten years after competition. So this doesn’t serve anyones purpose either…..

But in this case it’s mostly true, or maybe Japan would have won Gold. The US women aren’t on the same level with any of the Russians or the Japanese skaters. I’m not saying that to excuse Kamila or doping; I’m just being honest. The sample in question was not taken at the Olympics - it was taken back in December during Russian Nationals. The sample was sent to a Swedish lab because Russia is not allowed to process their own samples.

Yes. All parties have said that all of her tests outside of the sample from 12/25 have been clean……including tests done right before the Olympics and initial testing at the games. And test done right before and after the 12/25 sample was taken. Also, heads should roll at the Swedish lab. I don’t care if it is COVID. Every sample from Russian athletes should be tested right away. And a six week delay in getting that 12/25 sample is bullshit; I’m also curious to know if the B sample has been tested and what the results were.

Only if they go after adults; they would be assholes to after a 15 year old kid. I would also argue that this particular instance didn’t effect American athletes that much; by that I mean sub out Kamila for Anna or some other Russian skater and chances are results are the same.

Yeah. No need for a lifetime ban for a 15 year old with one bad test. Anywho, I feel like it’s only a matter of time before someone steps forward to be the fall guy or gal. No way is Eteri going down for this and the Russian alphabet agencies are going to fight hard for Kamila. I think she’s a darn good skater and you can’t take that away from her, even if her coaches were giving her something to help whatever it helps. There’s no drug out there that would turn me or someone without talent into a top contender. That’s what makes this so sad, it wasn’t necessary.

More info about the Valieva mess, also, because she is a minor Eteri and the coaching staff will also face investigation, so that’s a plus. She’ll also be stripped of the Russian title she won in December. No word on what will happen with the Euro title and it will be a long a while before the team medal situation is sorted out. https://apnews.com/article/winter-olympics-kamila-valieva-doping-hearing-b83486d765c1fa5a907d183c637a5dde

She was not suspended back in December. The sample was taken during Russian Nationals BUT not tested until after the team competition at the Olympics. She was suspended on Feb. 8th when the sample was finally tested. Or at least that’s my understanding based new stories and comments here. I have no ladies in this race and I’m not sure what you mean by our.