Why Is Kamila Valieva Still Allowed to Compete in the Winter Olympics?

A reasonable question given the recent doping controversy surrounding Kamila Valieva during the 2022 Winter Olympics. This article aims to provide a comprehensive explanation for why she was allowed to remain in the competition, based on the information available.

The Chemical in Question: Trimetadizine

During a urine sample taken late in 2021, a trace amount of trimetadizine was detected. Trimetadizine is a heart medication that has a very short half-life, lasting approximately seven hours. This means it has no performance-enhancing benefits beyond mere hours, and absolutely none after many weeks. Therefore, the trace found in a sample taken so far from any competition could not have contributed to a gold medal performance in mid-February 2022.

Accidental Contamination or Intentional Ingestion?

The question arises: how could a chemical that can be recognized in a urine sample also be physiologically inert? The answer lies in the simple fact that the benefits of the drug require it to be in the bloodstream. Drugs administered to the kidneys are not in the bloodstream, and therefore the effects of trimetadizine, unlike steroid-based testosterone, do not offer benefits beyond its brief presence in the bloodstream.

Furthermore, the substance is banned outright, whether during competition or not. This leads to discussions of athlete awareness and athlete intention. Ms. Valieva suspects her allowed medications were contaminated by her grandfather, a claim confirmed by the determining body. A prior case of trimetadizine violation by an American athlete was traced back to contamination of the athlete's multi-vitamins. This supports the notion that the inadvertent contamination and accidental ingestion of trimetadizine is a very real possibility, thus mitigating the athlete's responsibility.

The Fate of the Urine Sample

Ms. Valieva lost custody of her urine sample after providing it, and thus reasonably loses responsibility for the fate of the sample thereafter. All responsibility for forwarding results to concerned authorities devolves to the testing body. If the testing body or responsible Olympic agent fails to do so, it isn't the fault of the 15-year-old skating prodigy. The IOC recognizes this moral and legal fact.

Ms. Valieva, at 15 years old, cannot be held legally responsible under the IOC regulations. She is not legally accountable under the legal codes of any civilized country either. Therefore, she was not subject to punishment or loss of performance for actions or failings of others, unless it resulted in an actual performance boost. Since trimetadizine was weeks out of her body, any disqualification would have been unjust.

Age and Responsibility

The IOC judged that Ms. Valieva was at no illegal chemical advantage and was not responsible for her own medical treatment or condition. The responsibility was determined to fall on others, specifically her grandfather and the testing body. This ruling is in line with the regulations and legal norms.

Investigation and Consequences

An investigation is ongoing to determine who acted or failed to act among the individuals or agencies responsible for testing and the testing bureaucracy. This ongoing investigation will ensure accountability and penalize those who acted negligently or intentionally. The lack of a conclusion may delay the medal ceremonies for the events where Valieva participated until after the inquest is complete.

The conclusion is clear: Ms. Valieva could not justly be made to suffer a loss that was not the result of her own actions. She was not given a performance boost, and no other competitors' rights were sacrificed. Therefore, the disqualification of her performance was unjust. Once the responsibility is determined, a range of consequences will follow for those involved.

The ongoing investigation and the commitment to safeguarding the integrity of the Olympics ensure that justice is served and that the spirit of the games is upheld.