The International Olympics Committee (IOC), along with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), pride themselves on being strict when it comes to drug and performance enhancing rules. Subsequent agencies exist in each country, such as the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA). These agencies work directly with their country’s athletes and uphold the standards set by both IOC and WADA. 

This led the USADA to suspend track star Sha’Carri Richardson in the summer of 2021 after she tested positive for THC, or cannabis, an internationally banned drug in sports competitions. Richardson consumed OTC cannabis shortly after the Olympic trials in Oregon, where cannabis is legal for adults 21 and over. Richardson was 21 at the time, so according to Oregon state law, consuming cannabis was completely legal. However, the USADA said it was not legal for athletes, especially those planning on going to the Tokyo Olympics. 

Richardson had consumed cannabis to cope with the passing of her mother. She tested positive on June 19 and accepted a month’s suspension from competition on June 28. Even though her one month suspension would be over by the time of her races in July, the US Track Team decided to not take Richardson at all.

Because of this decision, cannabis consumption and usage became a huge topic of interest during the Tokyo Olympics. Some organizations spoke out against Richardson’s suspension, while others, such as soccer player Megan Rapinoe, spoke about CBD usage. CBD, while derived from hemp, is a legal substance by WADA and IOC and has been since 2017. 

But a recent positive drug test from an Olympic athlete is causing a stir in the sports world. Russian skater Kamila Valieva is still competing after a positive drug test. 

Skater Kamila Valieva

15-year-old Russian skater Kamila Valieva took the world by storm when she became the first female skater to land a quad during an international skating competition. Quads had only been done by a handful of male skaters. The world became stunned when such a young athlete landed this technically advanced move. 

But shortly after Valieva landed this historic move, the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) released a positive drug test result from the young skater. On December 25, the skater submitted a sample for testing that came back with three separate heart drugs. Only one, trimetazidine, also known as TMZ, is banned by WADA. TMZ increases exercise duration and improves cardiac performance. This has led some to speculate Valieva pulled off the quad during her routine because of TMZ. Valieva said she had a mix up with her grandfather’s medication, which is how TMZ ended up in her system. 

However, the RUSADA claimed they only received the results back a few days before they released them. This came after Valieva began competing. The RUSADA suspended Valieva for a short period of time before lifting the ban. With the ban lifted, the IOC and WADA, along with the International Skating Union (ISU) filed challenges to the lifted ban. 

This led the IOC to bring in the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS). This international body helps resolve these types of Olympic disputes in an unbiased fashion. The CAS, after reviewing the challenges, dismissed them and let Valieva continue to compete. In response, the IOC said penalties would be in place. No medals or awards ceremony would happen if Valieva placed in the top three. 

Questions Arise

This decision from both the RUSADA and CAS has raised concerns and questions regarding how the Olympics have handled some of the most recent positive drug results. In Sha’Carri Richardson’s case, her drug results became released almost immediately. For Kamila Valieva, her results took almost two months before their release. 

“Can we get a solid answer on the difference of [Valieva’s] situation and mines?” Richardson tweeted after the CAS said Valieva could still compete. “My mother died and I can’t run and was also favored to place top 3. The only difference I see is I’m a black young lady.

“Failed in December and the world just now know however my result was posted within a week and my name & talent was slaughtered to the people,” Richardson said in another tweet.

Richard Pound was the first president of WADA and spoke about the situation between Richardson and Valieva. “Certainly, in the Olympics, there’s not a racial bias in anything that we do,” Pound stated. “I think the key for the Russian is that she’s a minor,” he added.

Olympics Age Limit

The other question raised during these 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics is the age limit of athletes. Currently, athletes as young as 15 can compete as long as they are turning 16 within the year of the Olympics. This is the case with Valieva. However, because 15- and 16-year-olds are minors, different rules apply. In Valieva’s case, because she is a minor, there is little WADA and IOC can do to ban her from competition, even after testing positive for a performance enhancing drug. 

Other athletes are discussing the age limit for the Olympics to 18. That way, the athletes are all adults and can receive the same standards. American skater Mariah Bell, 25, spoke about an age limit shortly after her short program performance. “I absolutely believe that there should be an age limit,” she said. “I know for me, personally, I know when you’re growing there’s a lot of changes happening. There are minors competing… that’s a whole different thing.”

Olympics Results

Though she continued competing, Kamila Valieva finished 4th in the individual women’s figure skating competition, keeping her off the podium. Fellow Russian skaters Anna Shcherbakova and Aleksandra Trusova took gold and silver, with Japanese skater Kaori Sakamoto receiving a bronze medal. With Valieva off the podium, these skaters received their medals and had an award ceremony for their accomplishments. 

Even though Valieva didn’t win a medal, there is still concern over a minor taking performance enhancing drugs, how her test results were handled, and how she was still able to compete in the world’s top competition. US runner Sha’Carri Richardson was punished severely for consuming legal THC for her age and for the state she was in at the time, but was removed from all competitions. Kamila Valieva continued to compete with a known performance enhancer in her system. 

Future of the Olympics Drug Policies

Laws are always subject to change, no matter where they are set. The IOC and USADA both mentioned last year changing the rules surrounding THC, as it is not a performance enhancer. However, even if THC becomes a legal substance, there will need to be several changes in laws around the world, which still list THC as a scheduled drug to varying degrees. Regarding the age of athletes is a discussion waiting to happen, though it may not start until after the 2022 Beijing Olympics happen. 

Sha’Carri Richardson is currently training for the 2024 Paris Olympics and says she won’t use cannabis in the meantime. “If those rules do change, honestly I’m just blessed and proud of the fact I could do that for other athletes,” Richardson said. 

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