PARIS – Russia’s anti-doping agency (Rusada) has gone back on its decision to exonerate ice skater Kamila Valieva for a doping violation by appealing against its own ruling, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) announced on Friday.
Valieva tested positive for the banned substance trimetazidine at the Russian national championships in December 2021.
But the result was made known only on Feb 8, 2022 – a day after she helped her team win a gold medal at the Beijing Winter Olympics.
Rusada found in January that although the athlete, who was only 15 at the time, had committed an anti-doping rule violation (ADRV), she had committed “no fault or negligence”.
CAS revealed, however, that Rusada as well as the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) and the International Skating Union (ISU) had appealed against that decision.
“Rusada seeks a ruling from CAS setting aside the challenged decision and finding the athlete to have committed an ADRV... and sanctioned with ‘the appropriate consequences’ (which may include or be limited to a reprimand),” said CAS in a statement.
Wada said last week that it was “concerned” when Valieva, now 16, was cleared in January.
The body has appealed against the decision and called on CAS to impose a four-year suspension.
The ISU also appealed, asking the court to sanction her “with a period of ineligibility, to be determined at the discretion of CAS”.
ISU also said that CAS should determine the final result of the team event at the Winter Olympics in Beijing.
Valieva became the first female skater to land a quadruple jump in Olympic competition, helping the Russian team secure gold.
It later emerged the 2022 European champion had tested positive before the Games for trimetazidine.
It is a drug used to treat angina – chest pain from reduced blood flow to the heart – but it is banned for athletes because it can boost endurance.
In her defence, Valieva said the positive test was the result of a mix-up with her grandfather’s heart medication. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) allowed her to compete in the individual final in Beijing, citing her young age, but her tearful meltdown on the ice became the biggest story of the Games.
The IOC also decided that no medals for the team figure skating event would be presented until Valieva’s case had been resolved.
The United States took silver behind the Russians, with Japan getting the bronze and Canada finishing fourth. AFP, REUTERS
