I was at track practice when my rack partner was removed from the weight room to be drug tested. Although unnerving, this is a routine part of participating in athletics. 

My mind began to race thinking about the procedure itself. They only send samples from ⅓ athletes to UIL to be tested, but why? Wouldn’t it be fairer if all the tests were sent? 

Then I remembered that even in sports where all athletes are tested, the presence of prejudice and white privilege can still prevent equity. Just take a look at the recently competed Winter Olympics and the most recent Summer Olympics. 

Kamila Valieva, a figure skater representing the Russian Olympic Committee, tested positive for three substances with side effects that increase cardiovascular endurance, one of which being the banned drug trimetazidine. 

In 2019, Russia was put on a 4-year ban from international sports competitions by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) after being discovered running a years-long, state-sponsored doping scheme. This is why Valieva must compete under the Russian Olympic Committee in the first place rather than represent Russia as a country.

With the ROC coming off a 2-year drug-related ban itself, Valieva would most likely receive at least the standard consequences of performance-enhancing drugs, right? Well actually, she was  allowed to compete due to her being a minor, having been tested at 15-years-old.

My first question is, why was she tested in the first place if her results would be protected by her age anyway? Second, where was this energy for Sha’carri Richardson, Christine Mboma, Caster Semenya, Francine Niyonsaba, Margaret Wambui, or Beatrice Masilingi?

Sha’carri Richardson was due to qualify for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo for the 100-meter dash but tested positive for marijuana following her discovery of her mother’s death. Sha’carri had already taken the world by storm with her exemplary athletic performance, so when this news came out many people were devastated.

Richardson had people advocating for the reversal of her disqualification for many reasons, mostly because marijuana is not a performance-enhancing drug and the context in which the drug was used. Unfortunately, Richardson was not able to run.

The rest of the women I mentioned were victims of Olympic racism. Christine Mboma, Caster Semenya, Francine Niyonsaba, Margaret Wambui, and Beatrice Masilingi were all medalists in the 2020 Olympic trials who were disqualified due to their “high levels of testosterone.”

Their testosterone levels were out of their control, and most of them were unaware of their “unusually high” levels in the first place. When asked if heightened testosterone levels even give leverage to female athletes, medical correspondent Dr. Sujatha Reddy stated “We don’t have enough information with women with that level to say whether or not there is an advantage. We just don’t have that information.”

So why were these women disqualified due to the natural chemical makeup of their bodies of drug testing is so fair?

Why wasn’t Valieva penalized for drugs that directly increase her athletic ability when Richardson was disqualified for a drug that slows her down?

When a young white girl is favored to win, her reputation and eligibility are protected, but when Black women are favored to win they’re ripped right out of the running. 

The double standard is obvious, and disheartening to all the young Black women who wish to change the world with their talent. Society must learn to nurture Black potential the same way they do for white people.