Journalists got dragged off camera. NBC pulled journalist who mentioned the Uyghurs. And as for 15-year-old Russian skater, Kamila Valieva, well, that initial quadruple turned into the quadruple that roared. Her drug test came back positive for a banned heart medication. Generally, when athletes test positive for banned substances, they cannot claim their win nor can they compete. Disqualification is the penalty. How the drugs got into her system is not the issue. Whether she took them voluntarily or aggressive coaches foisted them upon her, the penalty must be the same to prevent both athletes and coaches from crossing that line into performance enhancing drugs.
However, the bumbling IOC decided, with Russia shelling kindergartens in Ukraine, that now was not a good time to banish that country’s athletes. So, the young skater could continue competing but there would not be an awards ceremony if she won. In what universe was this a good idea let alone a means for upholding rules and standards? Now that the young girl blew her performance in her final competition and had a crying jag, the IOC is outraged at her treatment.
The mental gymnastics, as it were (of Olympic proportion), are stunning. Is there a clear thinker anywhere in Beijing? Nope. These Olympics were ill-fated when the IOC allowed the CCP to host the 2022 games. The whole effort was a facade that began to develop layers of facades. Those brave ambassadors who staged a diplomatic boycott, whatever that means. Those obsequious toadies from NBC. The IOC officials creating new rules, new solutions, and new outrage at what those new things wrought. Where in the world is there principle?
Peradventure, on the tennis courts, or not on the tennis courts is more accurate. In that sport they ban athletes from competition who prefer not to put medications in their bodies. No exceptions to that requirement even when science demonstrates natural immunity affords the same or greater protection. If only Djokovic were Russian. He would have a chance to break the rules and still compete.
Politics and sports do not mix. Indeed, once you start it is a slippery slope on which a quadruple is impossible.
About mmjdiary
Professor Marianne Jennings is an emeritus professor of legal and ethical studies from the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University, retiring in 2011 after 35 years of teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in ethics and the legal environment of business. During her tenure at ASU, she served as director of the Joan and David Lincoln Center for Applied Ethics from 1995-1999. In 2006, she was appointed faculty director for the W.P. Carey Executive MBA Program. She has done consulting work for businesses and professional groups including AICPA, Boeing, Dial Corporation, Edward Jones, Mattel, Motorola, CFA Institute, Southern California Edison, the Institute of Internal Auditors, AIMR, DuPont, AES, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Motorola, Hy-Vee Foods, IBM, Bell Helicopter, Amgen, Raytheon, and VIAD.
The sixth edition of her textbook, Case Studies in Business Ethics, was published in February 2011. The ninth edition of her textbook, Business: lts Legal, Ethical and Global Environment was published in January 2011. The 23rd edition of her book, Business Law: Principles and Cases, will be published in January 2013. The tenth edition of her book, Real Estate Law, will also be published in January 2013. Her book, A Business Tale: A Story of Ethics, Choices, Success, and a Very Large Rabbit, a fable about business ethics, was chosen by Library Journal in 2004 as its business book of the year. A Business Tale was also a finalist for two other literary awards for 2004. In 2000 her book on corporate governance was published by the New York Times MBA Pocket Series. Her book on long-term success, Building a Business Through Good Times and Bad: Lessons from Fifteen Companies, Each With a Century of Dividends, was published in October 2002 and has been used by Booz, Allen, Hamilton for its work on business longevity. Her latest book, The Seven Signs of Ethical Collapse was published by St. Martin’s Press in July 2006 and has been a finalist for two book awards.
Her weekly columns are syndicated around the country, and her work has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, the Chicago Tribune, the New York Times, Washington Post, and the Reader's Digest. A collection of her essays, Nobody Fixes Real Carrot Sticks Anymore, first published in 1994 is still being published. She has been a commentator on business issues on All Things Considered for National Public Radio.
She has served on four boards of directors, including Arizona Public Service (1987-2000), Zealous Capital Corporation, and the Center for Children with Chronic Illness and Disability at the University of Minnesota. She was appointed to the board of advisors for the Institute of Nuclear Power Operators in 2004 and served on the board of trustees for Think Arizona, a public policy think tank. She has appeared on CNBC, CBS This Morning, the Today Show, and CBS Evening News.
In 2010 she was named one of the Top 100 Thought Leaders in Business Ethics by Trust Across America. Her books have been translated into four different languages. She received the British Emerald award for authoring one of their top 50 articles in management publications, chosen from over 15,000 articles.
Personal: Married since 1976 to Terry H. Jennings, Maricopa County Attorney’s Office Deputy County Attorney; five children: Sarah, Sam, and John, and the late Claire and Hannah Jennings.
