When can you consider an athlete's consent valid in a sports environment?

In a sports environment, an athlete's consent is considered valid when it is free from coercion, manipulation, or exploitation. Specifically, option C states that consent is never valid when there is a power imbalance. This is critical because power imbalances can occur due to age differences, hierarchical structures within sports organizations, or differences in experience between an athlete and a coach or authority figure.

When one party holds more power, they may inadvertently or intentionally pressure the other party into giving consent. This pressure undermines the autonomy of the individual and invalidates their consent. Therefore, ensuring that both parties are on equal footing is essential for consent to be deemed legitimate.

In contrast, the other options suggest conditions under which consent might be considered valid that do not take into account the critical aspect of power dynamics. For example, age should not be the sole determinant; both parties could still experience coercive influences regardless of age. Similarly, consent cannot simply rely on verbal agreement without acknowledging the context in which it is given, especially in situations where power imbalances exist.