Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva, 15, will NOT be kicked out of Winter Olympics despite failing drugs test
KAMILA VALIEVA, the 15-year-old Russian figure skater, will not be booted out of the Winter Olympics despite failing a pre-Games drugs test.
In a controversial ruling made by a major sports legal body, the Moscow-based star will be allowed to compete in the women’s single skating programme on Tuesday and Thursday night in Beijing.
The teenager helped Russia to team gold a week ago, thanks to her stunning routine which included an unprecedented quadruple jump.
Yet the next day’s medals ceremony was postponed when it emerged a test collected on December 25 during the Russian Figure Skating Championships in Saint Petersburg had returned an Adverse Analytical Finding.
The sample contained trimetazidine – banned for athletes since 2014 – which is medication used to treat chest pains and angina.
A hastily-arranged Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) three-person teleconference panel concluded at 2.10am on Monday morning after five-and-a-half hours of deliberations and discussions.
Evidence was provided by Valieva as well as by representatives from the International Olympic Committee, World Anti-Doping Agency, the International Skating Union and the Russian Anti-Doping Agency.
In a statement released on Monday afternoon in China, CAS decided against reimposing a provisional suspension on the Kazan-born teenager during these Games due to “exceptional circumstances”.
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The skater’s young age was taken into consideration – she is classed as a “Protected Person” under the World Anti-Doping Code.
The Panel “considered that preventing the Athlete from competing at the Olympic Games would cause her irreparable harm”.
The Panel also emphasised that there were serious issues of “untimely notification” of the results of her positive anti-doping test during the biggest event of her life.
They ruled that “such late notification was not her fault” and this “impinged” upon her “ability to establish certain legal requirements for her benefit”.
Sarah Hirshland, the CEO of the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee, said: "We are disappointed by the message this decision sends.
"It is the collective responsibility of the entire Olympic community to protect the integrity of sport and to hold our athletes, coaches and all involved to the highest of standards.
"Athletes have the right to know they are competing on a level playing field. Unfortunately, today that right is being denied. This appears to be another chapter in the systemic and pervasive disregard for clean sport by Russia.
"We know this case is not yet closed, and we call on everyone in the Olympic Movement to continue to fight for clean sport on behalf of athletes around the world."
WADA is disappointed by today's ruling
WADA
WADA expressed their "disappointment" at CAS' decision and accused the Panel of "not applying the terms of the code".
A WADA statement said: "WADA's appeal to CAS in this case, which was filed alongside appeals by the International Olympic Committee and the International Skating Union, was based on WADA's position that the decision by the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) Disciplinary Committee to lift the mandatory provisional suspension on the athlete was not in line with the terms of the World Anti-Doping Code (Code).
"WADA is therefore disappointed by today's ruling of the CAS Ad Hoc Division.
"While WADA has not received the reasoned award, it appears that the CAS panel decided not to apply the terms of the Code, which does not allow for specific exceptions to be made in relation to mandatory provisional suspensions for 'protected persons', including minors."
It was business as usual as Valieva practised at 2.30pm (6.30am UK time) in the Chinese capital and she will be favourite for a second gold this week.
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A decision on whether Russia should keep the Olympic team title – the US won silver, Japan were bronze medallists and Canada were fourth – will be made at a later unspecified date.
Meanwhile, WADA are planning to investigate the ‘entourage’ – medics, coaches, officials and guardians – that are involved with the Russian skating squad.
