The doping scandal surrounding younger Russian determine skater Kamila Valieva has drawn a lot of the world's consideration away from a number of different controversies involving China, the host nation of the Beijing 2022 Olympics.
Earlier than Valieva's constructive check for a banned coronary heart treatment turned a prime concern, non-Chinese language reporters at day by day Olympics briefings had been asking about Chinese language tennis participant Peng Shuai, China's actions involving Uyghur Muslims, and COVID-19 mitigation measures, the Related Press reported.
Now all eyes are largely pointed at Valieva, 15, whose clearance to compete within the girls's particular person occasion has drawn criticism and raised further questions. Valieva will head into the lengthy program within the prime spot on Thursday after incomes the very best rating within the quick program Tuesday. But when the Russian determine skater does win a medal, the Worldwide Olympic Committee (IOC) won't maintain a medal ceremony.
The delicate subjects linked to China have forged a cloud over the Beijing Olympics within the months and weeks main as much as the occasion. A number of international locations—together with the U.S., Canada and Australia—introduced diplomatic boycotts of the Video games final yr to protest alleged human rights abuses by the Chinese language authorities. This consists of the internment of at the least 1 million Uyghurs, which the U.S. and others have described as genocide though China has known as it the "lie of the century," the AP reported.
Tennis participant Peng, 36, drew worldwide consideration and concern after a Weibo publish in November that accused a former prime authorities official of sexually assaulting her, Newsweek beforehand reported. The publish was quickly eliminated and Peng vanished from public view for a number of weeks, sparking concern for her security and calls to analyze China's actions.
When Peng spoke out once more a couple of month later, she denied that she had made any sexual assault allegations towards the official and mentioned that there have been "many misunderstandings." Peng once more refuted that she had made the allegations in a managed interview in Beijing earlier this month, however some activists and critics have questioned whether or not her statements have been "compelled," Newsweekreported.
IOC President Thomas Bach mentioned throughout a February 3 briefing, the day earlier than the Video games started, that the group wouldn't be commenting on "political points." However reporters nonetheless requested about Peng and the Uyghurs when the Video games started, in addition to the bubble that segments Beijing's residents off from reporters and athletes on the Olympics, per the AP.
A lot of that modified with the information of Valieva's constructive check for trimetazidine, a banned coronary heart treatment that may increase blood movement and endurance. Valieva has obtained an outpouring of assist, however many have decried the choice to nonetheless let her compete.
In the meantime, a lot of the uncomfortable consideration and inquiries that have been directed at China at the moment are targeted on her. In an electronic mail to the AP, Olympic historian David Wallechinsky mentioned that the Chinese language authorities is the "huge winner" within the Valieva doping scandal.
"What a aid for them to not should fend off feedback about human rights," Wallechinsky mentioned.
Replace 2/15/22, 11:40 a.m. ET: This story has been up to date with further data and background.
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