Sha’Carri Richardson Slams Cleared Russian Skater Kamila Valieva Amid Doping Controversy

Sha’Carri Richardson — who missed the Tokyo Olympics after testing positive for a chemical found in marijuana — sounds off after 15-year-old Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva was cleared to continue competing at the Beijing Olympics despite testing positive for a banned substance in December.

On Monday, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled that Valieva could compete in the short program of the women’s single skating competition due to “exceptional circumstances,” including specific provisions linked to her status as a “protected person” — because she is a minor — under the World Anti-Doping Code.

This clause allows “specific provisions for different standards of evidence and for lower sanctions.”

Despite testing positive for trimetazidine, a heart medication that could increase endurance, in December — a finding that resurfaced after Valieva helped the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) win gold in the figure skating team event — the CAS noted that Valieva did not test positive during the Winter Olympics.

While considering the “fundamental principles of fairness, proportionality, [and] irreparable harm,” the CAS concluded “that preventing the athlete from competing at the Olympic Games would cause her irreparable harm in these circumstances.”

The decision, however, does not reflect whether Valieva did or did not violate anti-doping rules.

Following the news, Richardson criticized the decision, writing on Instagram Story, “It’s all in the skin.”

Last year, Richardson — who won the women’s 100-meter race at the U.S. track and field trials in Oregon— missed the Summer Olympics after she had accepted a suspension for testing positive for THC metabolites.

In an interview with “Today” after her suspension, Richardson said she used marijuana as a way to cope with the unexpected death of her biological mother — an announcement that she said she learned about from a reporter.

“Losing my mother wasn’t enough for me to run. I wonder why they let her,” Richardson added on IG Story.

On Twitter, Richardson continued to question why her case was treated differently, writing, “Can we get a solid answer on the difference of her situation and mines?”

“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,” she wrote, reiterating, “It’s all in the skin.”

Though Valieva will compete, officials will not conduct an awards ceremony or hand out medals in any event she wins until her case is resolved.

The Olympic Committee said in a statement, “Should Ms. Valieva finish amongst the top three competitors in the women’s singles skating competition, no flower ceremony and no medal ceremony will take place during the Olympic Winter Games,” adding that they will conduct “dignified medal ceremonies once the case of Ms. Valieva has been concluded.”