Chapter 41

41 Victim turns Perpetrator.

“WHAT? COACH, I AM TELLING YOU THAT IT WAS YE LEI WHO SPIKED MY WATER AND CAUSED ALL OF THIS MESS AND YET YOU’RE TELLING ME TO LEAVE THE TEAM?”

” HOW CAN YOU TELL ME TO LEAVE EVEN THOUGH I AM INNOCENT AND DID NOT DO ANYTHING WRONG?” Fang Li was in disbelief when rather than taking her side, her coach, whom she trusted the most, turned his back on her at the most crucial point in her life.

She was feeling helpless and could not believe that everyone was adamant to punish her for something she did not even commit.

The official investigation hasn’t been held yet and everyone has already believed that she has cheated in the competition and has consumed the banned drugs to enhance her performance.

Why would she need those drugs when she can do perfectly fine without them? That’s so ridiculous.

Then what is the use of holding a trial when the public has already accepted that she is a criminal?

In the last few days, she not only has to bear the judgemental gazes of people but she could not even receive phone calls from her father who was constantly trying to reach out to her since the controversy broke out.

What will she tell him after she picks up the phone? That she is innocent and his daughter is being framed wrongly?

This will only make him worry about her more and she does not want that. She doesn’t know how to deal with this situation or him at this point.

.....

She was waiting for the situation to calm down before talking to her family but it seems like there are no chances for the situation to get better anymore after seeing the reaction of her coach.

She looked at her coach and was hopeful that he might help her to get out of this mess. But seeing him dodging an eye-contact with her, she could tell that there is no hope left for her anymore.

“Fang Li, I am sorry. I know that you’re innocent and want to keep you on the team but the higher-ups have decided to terminate your contract and suspend you from the team.” He said seriously while wearing grave expressions on his face.

” This scandal has not only affected your reputation but also the company as well. The sports brands endorsements that you were doing, the contracts of those brands have fallen out.”

“If the company does not terminate its contract with you, then we will be forced to pay all the penalties instead and it will be a huge shock to the finances of the company. It’s sports but in the end, everything is a business. And it’s not beneficial for the team to have you on the team after this doping controversy.” He explained.

Fang Li: “.....”

Fang Li was not only surprised by the hypocritical behavior of the company but by her coach as well who was like a father figure to her all this time.

How can he be so nonchalant about this whole situation?

” Are you saying that I am not only being kicked out of the team but also have to pay the contract penalties of those brands as well?” Fang Li asked while holding her breath in nervousness.

Because if that happens, not only all of her savings will not get drained in paying the penalties but she will also have to sell the house that she bought for her family to live in not so long ago.

The amount of contract penalties is not meager after all. Her whole youth will be in vain if she were to give all of her savings just to pay the contract penalties.

“Unfortunately, Yes.” The coach answered with solemn expressions.

Hearing this, Fang Li almost lost her balance as her legs were feeling numb. As if time has stopped all of a sudden.

How can this be happening to her? What wrong did she do to anyone for this to happen to her?

__

” Then....what about Ye Lei? Aren’t you going to punish her or question her at the least?” Fang Li asked desperately.

If Ye Lei’s crime was to be proven, then everything can be resolved. Isn’t it?

” Honestly, it’s not so easy. We don’t have any evidence to prove your innocence or to claim that it was Ye Lei who framed you.”

“More importantly, Ye Lei has already submitted her resignation from the team before the match. Now she belongs to our opposition team. So we have to be very careful before taking any step.”

” The public is speculating that she is leaving the team because of you. They’re saying that since you both were roommates, you used to bully her and that’s why she decided to leave the team and join the opposition team.”

“See. Your reputation has already hit rock bottom now. I believe it’s better for you to not do anything and stay put for some time.”

Fang Li was speechless when she heard all of this from her coach. So....just because she is being bashed by the public, does it mean she was supposed to take the blow when she was innocent?

She was the ace player of their team, how can they kick her out so easily?

” WHAT? BULLIED HER? HAH!! IT’S LIKE CALLING THE VICTIM A PERPETRATOR.” She mocked while running her hand through her hair.

The coach sighed heavily and continued, ” I know you’re the innocent one here. However, things are not looking good.”

” She also gave a misleading interview to one of the top media outlets and said that she had seen you drinking water from the bottle. She also asked you for a sip of water but you refused to give it to her saying that you cannot give it to anyone.”

” So the public thinks that what she is saying is true and can be posed as the sole witness of this whole matter. So if you blame her for spiking your drink, things will only go against you. I believe it will be difficult for you to get out of this mess this time.” The man sighed as he delivered the bad news to Fang Li.

” I think you should stop doing anything for a while and wait for the investigation committee’s judgment.” The coach suggested it seriously.

Being caught up in a doping scandal is not a small controversy. It can ruin an athlete’s whole career in an instant.

The same thing was happening with Fang Li.

Since her results have come up as positive for doping, the media and the public were constantly picking on her, hating her entire existence.

The fans who were sending gifts and love letters for her until yesterday were now burning her posters and were starting anti-fan clubs.

The people who were cheering for her and chanting her name were now cursing her out on the internet for tarnishing the reputation of honorable sports like archery and calling her a CHEATER.

As a result, not only was the Gold Medal taken away from her but she was also banned from participating in competitions or practicing with her team members until her case has been investigated thoroughly.

However, no one knows how long it takes for her to clear her name. Or will she ever be able to prove her innocence?

After a long heated discussion among the higher-ups, Fang Li’s coach was pushed into the corner to make a hard decision and kick Fang Li out of the team.

That’s the best decision they could think of at the moment. Not only for the sake of the company and the other athletes but Fang Li as well.

Because there is no hope left for her anymore.

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