Ukrainian Olympic weightlifter Oleksandr Pielieshenko dies in war with Russia

Because Olympic athletes getting blown up in a dumb war is bad for morale.

In both cases, they were seen as subversives who reactionaries were glad to be rid of.

It's not an automatic system, they stood in front of a draft board who ruled they'll either join the army or go to prison.

Ali was convicted of draft dodging when he very publicly burned his draft card and refused enlistment. He was arrested, in Houston, after repeatedly refusing to acknowledge his name during induction. Then he spent the next eight months fighting the charge of draft dodging as a conscientious objector, ultimately appealing and winning his defection in a SCOTUS decision. Along the way, all his titles were revoked.

Presley got an absolute sweetheart deal and spent his two years "at war", living in a West German hotel, recording for RCA in his ample downtime, getting addicted to amphetamines thanks to a ahem helpful senior officer, and then being discharged with honors after being promoted to sergeant as part of a giant photo-op.

It does not look like Pielieshenko's experiences were comparable in either respect.