ISU Statement on Russia's war against Ukraine - Participation in international competitions of Skaters and Officials from Russia and Belarus

[euterpe]

Isn't Putin on steroids for his thyroid problem? That would surely render him immunocompromised. Furthermore, steroids can cause personality disorders. My mother-in-law was on high steroid dosages for her heart condition, and she announced that she and her family no longer needed doctors or medicine, because SHE was DOCTOR CURE. "Delusions of grandeur" it is called.

 

[Bigbird]

Isn't Putin on steroids for his thyroid problem? That would surely render him immunocompromised. Furthermore, steroids can cause personality disorders. My mother-in-law was on high steroid dosages for her heart condition, and she announced that she and her family no longer needed doctors or medicine, because SHE was DOCTOR CURE. "Delusions of grandeur" it is called.

Oh my.

 

[MacMadame]

Isn't Putin on steroids for his thyroid problem? That would surely render him immunocompromised. Furthermore, steroids can cause personality disorders. My mother-in-law was on high steroid dosages for her heart condition, and she announced that she and her family no longer needed doctors or medicine, because SHE was DOCTOR CURE. "Delusions of grandeur" it is called.

The treatment for thyroid problems is corticosteroids which suppress the immune system to stop inflammation. They do sometimes cause mood swings but they aren't known for changing the personality. You might be thinking of anabolic steroids which, when taken at high doses like bodybuilders who abuse them do, cause extreme mood swings as well as anger and aggression. i.e., "roid rage." But when prescribed by a doctor to treat low-t, that doesn't tend to happen.

 

[euterpe]

My mother-in-law was taking corticosteroids, not anabolic steroids. My sister-in-law called me and told me that her mother was 'talking funny'. I told her to call her mother's doctor and tell him what was happening, and he immediately reduced the dosage she was on. After about a week, my mother-in-law was back to normal and horribly embarrassed about her 'conversion'.

 

[Trillian]

The treatment for thyroid problems is corticosteroids which suppress the immune system to stop inflammation. They do sometimes cause mood swings but they aren't known for changing the personality.

I’m not an expert, but I’m guessing that ordering military invasions into neighboring countries is also not a documented side effect. I feel like that would be in the news more often.

 

[Debbie S]

The treatment for thyroid problems is corticosteroids which suppress the immune system to stop inflammation.

Depends on the thyroid problem. People with simple overactive or underactive thyroid take synthetic thyroid (Synthroid or generic version) that just replaces their natural dose to get them to normal levels. It is not a corticosteroid.

 

[BittyBug]

Technically an under active thyroid is treated with synthetic hormones. An overactive thyroid is treated with methimazole, which blocks the production of some of the natural hormones. (I only know this from treating some of my cats who had hyperthyroidism, which is apparently quite common in senior cats.)

 

[MacMadame]

Depends on the thyroid problem. People with simple overactive or underactive thyroid take synthetic thyroid (Synthroid or generic version) that just replaces their natural dose to get them to normal levels. It is not a corticosteroid.

Yes but the OP said her MIL was on steroids so she must have had a different problem.

 

[Debbie S]

Yes but the OP said her MIL was on steroids so she must have had a different problem.

Yes, euterpe said her MIL was on steroids for a heart problem. I was responding to your post which said thyroid problems are treated with steroids. I don't know what Putin's thyroid problem is (and I don't care) but my point was not all thyroid problems are treated with steroids (actually, I think steroids would only be used to treat a virus or infection involving the thyroid, not everyday/chronic issues).

 

[Dub16]

Alexander Gorshkov, President of FSFR, has sent a letter to all ISU members protesting the exclusion of its skaters and officials from internationals events and demanding that Russian representatives be allowed to attend Congress. He closes out the letter by stating:

In this regard, we would like to recall once again the fundamental principles contained in the Article 3, paragraph 3 ISU Constitution: "The ISU does not approve of interference in its sports based on political or any other grounds and will make every effort to avoid such interference." Russian Figure Skating, which has invested a lot to the skating worldwide, really deserves this approach."

Shameless.

 

[Karen-W]

LOL - wellllllll... The ISU has some wiggle room there, because it only says "will make every effort to avoid..." rather than "will avoid..." And, really, given that they've had skaters appear at Putin War rallies and that Gorshkov "persuaded" the skaters at that first Plushy show to skate after the pro-war pre-show event, they really have no leg to stand upon when it comes to the whole sports & politics are separate.

 

[Bigbird]

Alexander Gorshkov, President of FSFR, has sent a letter to all ISU members protesting the exclusion of its skaters and officials from internationals events and demanding that Russian representatives be allowed to attend Congress. He closes out the letter by stating:



Shameless.

They dug a nice size pit for themselves. Hope they enjoy splashing about for a bit.

 

[airgelaal]

The ISU does not approve of interference in its sports based on political or any other grounds

That is why they banned russia

 

[Karen-W]

One thing I noticed... It sounds like the ISU has told RUS & BLR they aren't allowed to send representatives to the ISU Congress in June... Ouch. That's going to hurt their politicking. That could be fascinating, to see what passes vs. what doesn't, without their voices in the lobby and lounges before voting occurs, lol.

 

[greenapple]

One thing I noticed... It sounds like the ISU has told RUS & BLR they aren't allowed to send representatives to the ISU Congress in June... Ouch. That's going to hurt their politicking. That could be fascinating, to see what passes vs. what doesn't, without their voices in the lobby and lounges before voting occurs, lol.

The ISU has probably not told the Russians anything as yet. Responses to the communique it sent out a couple of weeks ago to other ISU Members re proposed changes are due April 18 and will be reviewed on April 24. One of Russia's cronies would have shared it with them so they know what is in the works and thus this letter.

 

[coppertop1]

Their sense of entitlement is through the roof. They need to be banned for a long time and learn respect.

 

[Vagabond]

If the war were to end today, Russia would most likely remain suspended from international competition pending a thorough investigation into state-sponsored doping in figure skating and RUSADA's complicity therein.

 

[Hedwig]

Their sense of entitlement is through the roof. They need to be banned for a long time and learn respect.

I loved Russian skating so much but I don't want to watch Russian skaters for the next few years unless the whole country atoned for the horrors they inflicted on the world first for quite a long time and honestly. I don't think I could stomach it, especially seeing how sports is used as propaganda tool in Russia.

 

[taz'smum]

I loved Russian skating so much but I don't want to watch Russian skaters for the next few years unless the whole country atoned for the horrors they inflicted on the world first for quite a long time and honestly. I don't think I could stomach it, especially seeing how sports is used as propaganda tool in Russia.

Deleted

 

[zoe111]

I loved Russian skating so much but I don't want to watch Russian skaters for the next few years unless the whole country atoned for the horrors they inflicted on the world first for quite a long time and honestly. I don't think I could stomach it, especially seeing how sports is used as propaganda tool in Russia.

This is EXACTLY how I feel. But I think there is zero chance they will be back for the next two years

 

[airgelaal]

By the way, due to quarantine, the skaters will be forced to miss the shows in which they were supposed to participate. And this means they will be left without additional income. Or will the president pay extra? Or is it such an honor that nobody cares about money?
And they still say that Russian sport is out of politics?

 

[AYS]

If the war were to end today, Russia would most likely remain suspended from international competition pending a thorough investigation into state-sponsored doping in figure skating and RUSADA's complicity therein.

Even if the war ended today , apart from the pending doping investigation, there must be repercussions for the war crimes ordered by Putin and being carried out under the Russian flag. I don't see how this suspension would or should end anytime soon.

 

[BittyBug]

ITA. I realize that many of the skaters may be innocent victims since they did not personally order this war nor did they directly participate it its atrocities, but there is always collateral damage in war and not being able to skate can’t compare to what the people of Ukraine are enduring at the moment.

 

[MacMadame]

If the war were to end today, Russia would most likely remain suspended from international competition pending a thorough investigation into state-sponsored doping in figure skating and RUSADA's complicity therein.

I wish I believed that would happen. I have no faith in the ISU or IOC to do anything hard especially when it comes to Russia.

ITA. I realize that many of the skaters may be innocent victims since they did not personally order this war nor did they directly participate it its atrocities, but there is always collateral damage in war and not being able to skate can’t compare to what the people of Ukraine are enduring at the moment.

I don't like to rank hardships but when I think of innocent people being tortured and killed because Putin has decided the way to win this war is to raze Ukraine to the ground, I have trouble feeling sorry for skaters for missing a show or two even if that turns out to be a very big hardship for them and their own families.

 

[airgelaal]

ITA. I realize that many of the skaters may be innocent victims since they did not personally order this war nor did they directly participate it its atrocities, but there is always collateral damage in war and not being able to skate can’t compare to what the people of Ukraine are enduring at the moment.

When I hear that Russian athletes are innocent victims, I would like to ask: what should we call Ukrainian athletes then? How many Russian athletes would agree to be in the place of Ukrainian athletes?
For example, figure skaters from Kharkiv probably no longer have a home. But they were able to skate at the junior world championship. How many will be willing to agree to such conditions?

 

[BittyBug]

It’s not a contest. It can be simultaneously true that Ukrainians are suffering unspeakable horrors and that many of the Russian skaters have absolutely no involvement in these horrors other than by accident of birth. In that sense they are innocent. It doesn’t mean that the consequences they are experiencing in any way compares in severity to those suffered by Ukrainians, or that they the sanctions aren’t appropriate.

 

[airgelaal]

And I'm not saying it's a competition. But to call people who continue to live their usual lives and do nothing victims, as for me, is somehow strange.
The war did not start yesterday. None of the Russian skaters looks like a victim. Everyone is happy and content with life.

 

[coppertop1]

Anna and Kamila are scheduled to meet with Putin, that alone gives me Hunger Games vibes. Then you have Plushenko using his students in his students in his pro war exhibition and blindsided the skaters about the nature of the show.

If Russia were to be allowed back it would be extremely awkward and uncomfortable for everyone. The more Russia whines, the further they dig themselves into a hole. What they have done needs to have severe long term consequences.

I will miss seeing Liza and Kosternaia (Russia doesn't deserve them) and I feel sad that between this and the doping, Valieva's career is ruined. But, Ukraine has it much, much worse.

 

[Holy Headband]

If the war were to end today, Russia would most likely remain suspended from international competition pending a thorough investigation into state-sponsored doping in figure skating and RUSADA's complicity therein.

That’s what should happen, but the ISU loves propping up Russian skaters and thinks publicising 'rivalries' between 15-year-old girls who jump prerotated quads and can't bend their knees is the only way to save the sport, so the question is not whether/when the suspension will be lifted but 1. what kind of viewership/ticket revenue ISU events are drawing/will draw in the absence of Russian athletes and 2. whether there will still be Russian state money flowing into the pockets of international judges and officials once the suspension is lifted.

I can't speculate as to 1., but I suspect Russian skating will be in dire financial straits shortly if it isn't there already.

 

[Dobre]

Alexander Gorshkov, President of FSFR, has sent a letter to all ISU members protesting the exclusion of its skaters and officials from internationals events and demanding that Russian representatives be allowed to attend Congress.

Dear Mr. Gorshkov,

The best way to move forward from a timeout is to start by acknowledging one's own shortcomings and agreeing to improve one's own behavior. If Russian figure skating is free from political influence, then the Russian Figure Skating Federation should be responsible enough to pull positively-testing athletes while investigations are conducted and to comply with all the openness requirements requested by WADA. If the Russian government is standing in the way of those things happening, then your argument that skating should be free from political influence cannot be achieved without that separation being enforced at home in Russia first.

Sincerely,

A fan of Russian skating