No, Kamila Valieva Should Not Be Allowed to Skate

Photo by Rod Long on Unsplash

I know this is going to be a hugely unpopular opinion, but I do not think that Kamila Valieva should be allowed to skate in the Olympics while waiting for a hearing on her drug test.

And I know this is going to result in me being accused of being mean to a child, but hear me out.

No, Valieva is Probably Not the Responsible Party

She’s 15. She may not even know she was given the drug. She may have been told it was vitamins.

I was 15 once. We all were. Maybe she does know and understand what’s going on, but the truth is that it’s a very vulnerable age. Young athletes are far too often abused and exploited.

I feel terrible for her.

I really do and I feel terrible that her Olympic dreams have been ruined. Yet, I’m not going to budge.

She should not be allowed to skate.

And here’s why.

Photo by Roberto Sorin on Unsplash

If She Was an Adult…

…then she wouldn’t be allowed to skate. She’s being given leeway because she’s a minor, so she’s not responsible.