IOC hit back at American sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson after she accused them of double standards for banning her from Tokyo Games after positive cannabis test, but allowing 15-year-old Russian figure-skater Kamila Valieva to compete in Beijing
- Sha’Carri Richardson criticised decision to allow Kamila Valieva to compete
- Valieva was given a reprieve going into the final day of the figure skating
- Richardson couldn’t compete in Tokyo after testing positive for marijuana
- The IOC have responded and dismissed Richardson’s double standards claim
The International Olympic Committee have rejected claims from the US sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson that there have been double standards in their handling of her anti-doping case and that of Russian prodigy Kamila Valieva.
Valieva was given a reprieve earlier this week to continue competing at Beijing 2022 and leads going into today’s final day of the women’s figure skating.
While Valieva, 15, was positive last December for the banned angina drug trimetazidine, and her sample also included two legal heart medications, hypoxen and L-Carnitine, Richardson was prevented from running at the Tokyo Olympics because of a marijuana rap.
Sha’Carri Richardson slammed the decision to allow Kamila Valieva to compete in Beijing
Richardson (left) suggested there had been double standards after she was wasn’t able to compete in the Tokyo Olympics due to a positive marijuana test
Richardson said: ‘Can we get a solid answer on the difference of her situation and mine? The only difference I see is I’m a black young lady.’
An IOC spokesman responded: ‘You can’t talk about double standards in relation to Russian and American athletes, each case is individual.
‘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.’
The IOC say there will be an ‘asterisk’ next to Valieva’s name if she wins today as she has not yet had a hearing to determine her innocence or guilt of doping.
Valieva tested positive for angina drug trimetazidine ahead of the Winter Olympics
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