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Queries on doping, harassment, ineptitude at Olympics

By The Associated Press

BEIJING (AP) — The biggest questions at the Beijing Olympics on Saturday hardly centered on who would win the six gold medals up for grabs.

Not with the fate of 15-year-old figure skaterstill undecided. Will the Russian be allowed to compete after testing positive for a ban substance? Can the ROC really keep the gold she helped win in the team event?

Grave inquiries emerged in the mountains, too, when a former U.S. Olympian alleged harassment by her former coach and teammate — both of whom are at the Beijing Games.

Even the oh-so-friendly Canadians have stepped into controversy, a tiff between countrymen stemming from a blown ruling by Olympic judges.

The story of the Beijing Games has been the stunning revelation and ensuing legal battle regarding Valieva, who tested positive for a banned heart medication on Dec. 25. The doping case came to light shortly after Valieva helped the ROC win team gold.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport confirmed it will hear appeals Sunday from the International Olympic Committee and the World Anti-Doping Agency challenging Valieva’s status as a medalist and her right to compete in the upcoming women’s program.

Valieva is still preparing as if she’ll perform, but broke down in tears Saturday after an emotional practice session. Valieva fell trying a triple axel — a jump she typically executes without a problem — while doing a run-through of her short program. She later landed two combos, a triple flip-triple toe loop and a triple lutz-triple toe loop before skating to the boards and giving her coach, Eteri Tutberidze, an emotional hug.

SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS

U.S. Ski & Snowboard is investigating charges that longtime Olympic coach Peter Foley took naked pictures of female athletes and that Olympic snowboard racer Hagen Kearney used racist language to provoke a teammate.

Former snowboardcross rider Callan Chythlook-Sifsof, a member of the 2010 Olympic team, wrote in an Instagram post that in addition to taking the photos, Foley had made inappropriate comments, and that Kearney repeatedly used the N-word to “intentionally get under my skin.”

Chythlook-Sifsof is from Alaska and describes herself as Yupik and Inupiaq.

Both Foley and Kearney were in China this week for the Beijing Games.

Foley said he was surprised by the allegations in a text to The Associated Press and denied them.

TRUE NORTH SQUABBLE

Slopestyle gold medalist Max Parrot said fellow Canadian snowboarder Mark McMorris apologized Saturday for saying Parrot only won because of questionable Olympic judging.

Parrot acknowledged to The Associated Press that he failed to fully execute a grab on the first jump of the slopestyle course Monday and said he was lucky the judges didn’t see it. He maintains he still had the best run of the day and earned his first Olympic gold.

McMorris finished third but told CBC on Friday he deserved to beat Parrot and Chinese silver medalist Su Yiming.

Parrot said there were no hard feelings over McMorris’ comments.

“He actually came to me earlier today and he apologized for his non-sportsmanship,” Parrot said. “I told him no worries.”

THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT

A young and inexperienced U.S. hockey team went toe to toe with Canada in a bruising matchup between the longtime rivals and grinded out a 4-2 victory to remain unbeaten in two games at the Olympics.

“We didn’t back down from their physical play,” said captain Andy Miele, who led the U.S. with a goal and an assist. “I love the way our team responded.”

Thanks to Miele’s response goal 70 seconds after Canada scored and 35 saves by Strauss Mann, the U.S. is in the driver’s seat to earn a spot in the quarterfinals. Beating Germany on Sunday would put the Americans first in the group and could made them the top seed in the knockout round.

OLDIES BUT GOODIES

Lindsey Jacobellis won her second gold medal of the Olympics as she teamed with 40-year-old Nick Baumgartner for the title in the new event of mixed snowboardcross.

At 40 years, 57 days, Baumgartner, a concrete worker-contractor from Michigan, becomes the oldest snowboarder to win an Olympic medal. At 36 years, 177 days, Jacobellis, the author of a children’s book, is the second-oldest.

“You’re never too late to take what you want from life,” Baumgartner said.

HOME GOLD

Gao Tingyu thrilled the host country by becoming the first Chinese man to claim an Olympic gold medal in speedskating, winning the 500 meters. Gao added to the bronze medal he took in the 500 at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games.

The silver went to Cha Min Kyu of South Korea, whose time of 34.39 gave him a matching medal to the silver he won four years ago in Pyeongchang. Wataru Morishige of Japan took the bronze in 34.49.

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Ariel Atkins returned to Team USA for second stint with an increased role

By Tyler Byrum
Atkins returned to Team USA with an increased role originally appeared on NBC Sports WashingtonWASHINGTON -- Playing for Team USA and representing your country is an honor only a few athletes get to experience throughout their competitive careers. That is partly why Ariel Atkins holds her roster spot with such reverence and couldn't even put it into words when she first made the team for the Olympics in 2021. But this time when she made the team, Atkins wasn't the rookie jumping on board to play with esteemed Team USA. This time, Atkins knew the ropes and was one of the players the United States relied upon in FIBA World Cup Qualification the second week of February.She also knew the ropes because the tournament was hosted in her home WNBA venue, the Entertainment and Sports Arena in Southeast D.C.As Team USA qualified for their 16th straight World Cup, Atkins' role was completely different than her first time around on the national team. "The first thing we said to her when we walked into the gym is 'you're a vet now. You're a vet,' and she looked and she's like, 'okay, I can do that,' Team USA head coach Cheryl Reeve said during the tournament. "And what I've seen from her is she's got a maturity now, she's played on a very good team, very well-coached team. It shows when she plays and we've just really count(ed) on her and we put her in a key role defensively tonight."Where Atkins was shuffled down to one of the last reserves in the Tokyo Olympics, she was one of the four holdovers to participate in this qualifying tournament. That meant far more playing time than the six minutes she averaged in Japan.Atkins was named a starter against both Belgium and Puerto Rico for the D.C. contests. And while this wasn't her first rodeo with Team USA, a lot was still different. "It's a lot of different people. There's not one person on that roster that I played with during the W's season, so is definitely different," Atkins said who played with then-teammate Tina Charles in Tokyo. "It's a little crazy. Definitely, I think the biggest difference that I noticed was I'm able to take in more information because I've been here before so being able to kind of catch on quicker has been super helpful. But I got to use my voice more. I mean, since I have been here before."Her role was similar to that on the hometown Washington Mystics; an off-ball scorer that is stout on the defensive end. As a starter, she posted 10.5 ppg with eight-for-14 shooting from the field in two games for Team USA. She also added three steals on the American squad that dominated play on the defensive end.Like she did in Washington, people have taken notice of the young guard when she was given the opportunity. Her basketball intellect is greater than her age, 25, and plays her role to the team's needs."She's just trustworthy. It's probably one of the greatest things you can say about a player," Reeve said. "Overall that's a player that I trust. I put her in spots to make passes. I put her in spots to make shots, put her in spots defensively. So Mike (Thibault)'s very fortunate he made a hell of a pick when he drafted Ariel Atkins."This made two years in a row that Atkins has represented her country. She'll likely be chosen again for the team when the FIBA World Cup is held in Australia later this year. Her team will be looking for their fourth straight World Cup title and Atkin's first.Based on how she has performed thus far, there are certainly many more national team call-ups on the horizon."Yeah for sure, (it) definitely (has settled in)," Atkins said. "I think with that comes great responsibility. So all the excitement is like yeah, you're thankful for it, but you know it's a big responsibility."
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