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Star Russian determine skater Kamila Valieva’s Winter Olympics doping scandal has dominated the headlines. Nevertheless it raises an even bigger query.
The catastrophic fall from grace skilled by 15-year-old Russian ice skater Kamila Valieva this week has drawn consideration to a sinister “multi-layered” Olympics drawback.
The teenager was main the ladies’s free skate following her quick program in Beijing, nonetheless delivered a disastrous finals efficiency after information broke she had examined optimistic to a banned substance in December.
The Worldwide Olympic Committee allowed her to finish her Olympics marketing campaign, however concluded there could be no medal ceremony if she completed within the high three.
It will have been unfair for different athletes, the IOC stated, given Valieva had returned a optimistic drug pattern and the result of an investigation had not but been decided.
“Ought to Ms Valieva end among the many high three rivals within the Girls’s Single Skating competitors, no flower ceremony and no medal ceremony will happen,” the IOC stated.
An additional competitor was additionally added to the competitors to account for the potential for Valieva being disqualified.
Having suffered a number of falls all through her remaining mistake-ridden program, she completed in fourth place behind two Russian teammates and Japanese skater Kaori Sakamoto.
The scandal has since forged a tragic shadow over the competitors, with Valieva’s case fuelling debate over whether or not the minimal age of athletes needs to be elevated.
Outstanding voices within the Olympic neighborhood have argued folks thought-about youngsters within the eyes of the legislation shouldn’t compete in occasions designed for adults.
The coach of gold medal-winning US ice skater Nathan Chen argued in opposition to younger youngsters being allowed to compete in Olympic occasions.
“In case you are skating in an grownup competitors, you have to be an grownup,” Rafael Arutunian informed NBC Olympics this week.
A course of to boost the minimal age from 15 to 17 has reportedly already been set in movement, with a Russian TV report revealing the Worldwide Skating Union meant to suggest an Olympic age improve at a gathering in June.
The age change would solely apply to determine skating, and would doubtless see “protected individuals” guidelines underneath the World Anti-Doping Company code eliminated, because it sometimes utilized to athletes underneath 16.
It was that code that allowed Valieva to proceed competing, because it voided her from being provisionally suspended underneath the Courtroom of Arbitration for Sport’s guidelines.
Moreover, its shield folks underneath 16 from being suspended in favour of being reprimanded, and frees them from investigation into how the medicine ended up of their physique.
Included within the postposed adjustments set to be mentioned in June shall be a advice the minimal age be raised to 16 for the 2023-24 season and 17 for the 2024-25 season onwards, in response to the publication.
The staggered rollout would keep away from athletes already within the senior aggressive system who wouldn’t meet the minimal of 17 in 2022-23 from being penalised.
The Norwegian Skating Affiliation will suggest a distinct normal that might apply throughout all ISU sports activities together with determine, quick monitor and velocity skating.
Athletes would must be at the least 17 to compete in determine skating singles evens, and 16 for ice dance and pairs.
The affiliation will suggest that every one adjustments take impact within the 2023-24 season.
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