Beijing Olympics: IOC rubbishes Sha’Carri Richardson’s accusations of “double standards over Kamila Valieva
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Sha’Carri Richardson and Kamila Valieva
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has dismissed claims that a “double standard” approach was applied to the American sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson compared to ROC figure skater Kamila Valieva after both tested positive for a banned drug.
Richardson, who missed last year’s Tokyo Olympics after receiving a 30-day ban for smoking cannabis, said she had done so to relieve the pain she felt over the recent demise of her mother.
The US athlete had earlier this week suggested that the colour of her skin was behind the discrepancy by the apex body. She stated: “Can we get a solid answer on the difference between her situation and mine? The only difference I see is I’m a black young lady.”
“Can’t talk about double standards about Russian and American athletes”
Agreeing with what Richardson said, many have suggested that the IOC has been soft on the Russian athlete compared to the US. However, the IOC spokesperson Mark Adams rued these statements and reckoned that that was not the case.
“You can’t talk about double standards in relation to Russian and American athletes, each case is individual,” he stated.
“Richardson’s positive doping test was discovered on 19 June, and the result was received before the start of the Olympics. She was suspended for a month. There is nothing in common between these two cases. This Games, which has not concluded, concerns an issue in December”
“She is in the centre of a lot of speculation. It must be very tough for her. We, of course, are in touch with the team, her welfare is the team’s first priority, and obviously, we are very careful of that but there’s only so much that we can do,” Adams signed off.
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Sachin Arora
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