Sha’Carri Richardson, American track and field sprinter, has kicked against clearance of Russian Kamila Valieva to compete at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics after she failed a drug test.
Richardson was a gold-medal hopeful at the Summer Olympics for Team USA, but she missed the event after testing positive for cannabis in the run-up to Tokyo.
She has now taken to social media to criticise the decision to allow Valieva to continue competing at the Beijing Games.
Ad Hoc Division Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled on Monday, February 14, that the 15-year-old figure skater could continue competing in Beijing.
That decision has drawn widespread criticisms with Team USA chief executive Sarah Hirshland accusing Russia of a “systematic and pervasive disregard for clean sport.”
Richardson also took to social media to ask the difference between her and Valieva’s situation.
She tweeted on Monday: “Can we get a solid answer on the difference of her situation and mine?
“My mother died and I can’t run and was also favoured to place top 3. The only difference I see is I’m a black young lady.”
Valieva happy after clearance
Meanwhile, Valieva said that she is ‘happy but emotionally tried’ after being cleared by the CAS to continue to compete at the ongoing Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.
“These (past few) days have been very difficult for me,” Valieva told Russia’s Channel One, as per Sky Sports. “It’s as if I don’t have any emotions left. I am happy but at the same time I am emotionally tired,” she added.
CAS ruled that Valieva could compete in the short programme of the women’s singles figure skating competition on Tuesday, an event that she’s a favourite to win.
Valieva had earlier starred in Russian Olympic Committee’s (ROC) victory in the team event in Beijing on February 7.
The Executive Board (EB) of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) took note of the decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Later, IOC agreed that if Valieva finishes among top three competitors in the Women’s Single Skating competition, no flower ceremony and no medal ceremony will take place during the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022.
