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If they found something, they had to try with all their vigor to explain it away. But maybe with all their efforts they just could not.If RUSADA (Russia) indeed found wrongdoing, then why drag it out? The scuttlebutt is that Russia will accept it & move on…
I read this as: Time to cue the Stars & Stripes!![]()
I’m beginning to feel that she will not be exonerated. That big new Sambo-70 sports complex may end up being occupied by a new skating director (?). Let’s see what plays out.….
What if after all this Eteri is exonerated and it really was the actions of an overambitious mother?
Wow.I’m beginning to feel that she will not be exonerated. That big new Sambo-70 sports complex may end up being occupied by a new skating director (?). Let’s see what plays out.
I’m beginning to feel that she will not be exonerated. That big new Sambo-70 sports complex may end up being occupied by a new skating director (?). Let’s see what plays out.
I'd rather that big new complex be occupied by the Ukrainian army to be honest.I’m beginning to feel that she will not be exonerated. That big new Sambo-70 sports complex may end up being occupied by a new skating director (?). Let’s see what plays out.
Russians aren't out of the competition due to doping...If the Russians never get their team medal but are able to return to ISU competitions they're probably OK with that.
What if after all this Eteri is exonerated and it really was the actions of an overambitious mother?
RUSADA which means no one will believe it anyway.Exonerated by who?
I'm kind of wondering if the reason it's getting drawn out is they know she (and the rest of Eteri's top skaters) are doping and have a lot of overwhelming evidence. Now they were trying to figure out what to do about it. They could 1. just hide all the evidence and say it's a nothing burger - but that would lead to a WADA appeal and possibly more sanctions against Russian athletes when they are allowed to compete again 2. say it was just Valieva, but that would similarly draw more scrutiny - though this is probably the safest option 3. go nuclear, release all the evidence, and punish Eteri and her whole school.History shows us it is never just one athlete.
A couple of years ago Russia accused Sotskova of using banned suubstances. I laughed at the time - making a scapegoat out of their most expendable skater.I wouldn't be surprised if they throw Eteri under the bus. She has plenty of prospects in other countries and has a daughter in the US. It wouldn't ruin her to be "fired" especially if they give her a good severance deal.
But it makes more sense to say it's just one athlete and waggle their finger at her while giving her a light punishment.
They will never do that. She is not alone in the team and does not plan to become a scapegoat.I wouldn't be surprised if they throw Eteri under the bus. She has plenty of prospects in other countries and has a daughter in the US. It wouldn't ruin her to be "fired" especially if they give her a good severance deal.
But it makes more sense to say it's just one athlete and waggle their finger at her while giving her a light punishment.
My suspicion from the start of this would be that they give her a suspension that covers Europeans, take away that medal and either leave it vacant or move everyone else up a la B/S cough syrup in 2000, and then move on with it. 30 days would do it. 60 days would take her out of both the team event and individual event in Beijing, and I don't see it happening.I expect they'll find Valieva guilty, use theexcuse, determine that Eteri the Angel had nothing to do with it, and the punishment will either be a warning, no suspension, due to her age, or they'll suspend her for a month or however long until the day before the team event.
And then the appeals will begin.
This had been my take as well. She'll vacate Euros and nothing else. She didn't get an individual medal so they don't even have to deal with that, and everyone except maybe the Japanese, US, and Canadians feds will agree that she was punished and her team shouldn't be held responsible. No Olympic results will change.My suspicion from the start of this would be that they give her a suspension that covers Europeans, take away that medal and either leave it vacant or move everyone else up a la B/S cough syrup in 2000, and then move on with it. 30 days would do it. 60 days would take her out of both the team event and individual event in Beijing, and I don't see it happening.
This way there's the 'well we at least did something'.
Kind of like the US. We elect cheats to the highest office in the land. And, many other countries do the same. Russia is hardly unique.No matter what, Valieva is a national heroine. So much has been invested in the promotion of her sacrifice and heroism that russia will hold on to this symbol to the end. Of course, they will protect both Valieva and Eteri. russia is a country where athletes disqualified for doping become senators. You should not expect much from a country where there is such a high tolerance for doping.
Except that she was placed fourth. I am sure that the skaters who finished behind her in the overall standings would prefer one place higher. Making the top ten sounds a heck of a lot better than finishing eleventh.This had been my take as well. She'll vacate Euros and nothing else. She didn't get an individual medal so they don't even have to deal with that
How quickly we forget the ISU allowed 25 skaters to the free skate for this very reason. Remove Valieva's result, and you still have the typical 24 qualifiers.Except that she was placed fourth. I am sure that the skaters who finished behind her in the overall standings would prefer one place higher. Making the top ten sounds a heck of a lot better than finishing eleventh.
And I would rather have been able to watch Josefin Taljegård perform her Joker program one more time, even if she were to finish twenty-fifth, than watch the "pure and innocent girl" who stumbled all over the ice.
I'd still rather have watched Taljegård than Valieva.How quickly we forget the ISU allowed 25 skaters to the free skate for this very reason.