The press service of the International Testing Agency (ITA) issued a statement on the positive test of 15-year-old Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva, who questions the continuation of her participation in the Olympic Games in Beijing.
The suspicious sample was taken by the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) on December 25 during the Russian Figure Skating Championships in St Petersburg. A Russian laboratory accredited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) announced on February 8th that the substance trimetazidine had been found in the sample, after which Kamila Valieva was temporarily removed.
In accordance with Article 15 of the IOC Anti-Doping Rules, which also apply to Beijing 2022 Olympics, RUSADA’s decision to suspend competition rights automatically prohibits the athlete from participating in any competition, including the Olympic Games.
In this case, the sample was taken before the Games and is therefore not under the jurisdiction of the IOC and is not managed by ITA. In accordance with the rules, the ITA informed the athlete that she was temporarily removed by a decision of RUSADA, which is mandatory for the IOC. Kamila Valieva was banned from participating in competitions, training, or participating in any activity during the Olympics.
Kamila Valieva challenged the suspension on February 9, and it was revoked on the same day, allowing her to participate. However, the IOC intends to appeal this decision, and the case will be heard by a panel of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). A decision is expected by February 15, when Valieva’s next participation in the individual race.
Following the decision, the results may be reconsidered and the team in the figure skating competition won by the skaters of the Russian Olympic Committee.
On Tuesday, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) canceled the award ceremony after the figure skating team tournament, citing urgent legal circumstances that need to be clarified with the International Skating Union.
“Journalists need to be more patient and wait for official statements about the reason for postponing the figure skaters’ award ceremony after the Beijing Olympics team tournament”, said the two-time silver medalist from the Olympic Games in PyeongChang 2018, Evgenia Medvedeva. She also expressed support for Valieva: “Kamila, you know how I feel about you, words are unnecessary here. Everything I wanted to tell you, you have already heard in person. I will always support you!”
