Kamila Valieva’s doping case upsets US figure skaters as IOC prevents medal distribution until 2021 case resolves

RUSADA and IOC continue looking into Kamila Valieva’s doping case as US figure skaters get frustrated for not receiving medals for their achievements.

Kamila Valieva’s doping case upsets US figure skaters as IOC prevents medal distribution until 2021 case resolves

Каmіlа Vаlіеvа [Image Credit: Imago]

Russian Olympic skater Kamila Valieva’s Beijing Olympic race comes under scrutiny as US figure skaters express their frustration of not receiving medals for their victories. During the Beijing Olympics the IOC, International Olympic Committee decided that no medals will be distributed to teams unless Valieva’s case is resolved.

This has frustrated many skaters, especially the US team, as they got deprived of their medals after getting mixed up in the 2021 Valieva case. The RUSADA, Russian Anti-Doping Agency appealed to set aside a ruling from its own disciplinary committee.

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They asked CAS, the Court of Arbitration for Sport to sanction the figure skater, letting RUSADA handle its disciplinary tribunal. It was reported on Friday that RUSADA asked for the skater to be punished with a minimal reprimand and to let her keep her gold medal won in the Beijing Olympics.

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Related: “Historic decision”- Minimum age for Olympic figure skating raised to 17 after Kamila Valieva doping scandal

Kamila Valieva [Image Credit: KSBY]
Kamila Valieva [Image Credit: KSBY]

The USA team that won 2nd place at the 2022 Winter Olympics is yet to receive their medals which has “deeply frustrated” the team players, Nathan Chen, Vincent Zhou, and Karen Chen. Kamila Valieva’s legal battles continue in full force as her taking gold at the Beijing Olympics raised severe questions pointing towards her credibility.

Valieva was reported positive for using a banned substance two months prior to the game. Despite her positive result, she participated in the event, leading Russia to win its gold medal. The highest sports courts and other reporting bodies have been battling the case with Americans, unfortunately, getting dragged into the scenario.

A representative of the US figure skating told Insider, “US Figure Skating and its athletes are deeply frustrated by the lack of a final decision in the Team Event”. “We’re very proud of how our Olympic medalists have carried themselves with poise and dignity since earning medals in Beijing.”

“They have long deserved the recognition that has been withheld due to the ongoing process”. It’s been nearly a year since the Valieva case started with no progression made in between. WADA, the World Anti-Doping Agency put RUSADA under “formal notice” to speed up the process due to concerns “with the ongoing delay in Kamila Valieva’s case”.

In December 2021, Valieva was caught using a heart drug, Trimetazidine which can reportedly boost one’s performance. Previously, WADA asked CAS to ban Kamila Valieva for 4-years of performance while ISU requested punishment at the discretion of CAS.

The three bodies, RUSADA, WADA, and ISU challenged Russia’s anti-doping tribunal’s decision that stated that the 16-year figure skater bore “no fault or negligence” for the positive test back in 2021.

RUSADA acknowledged Valieva’s illegal use of the drug breaking its anti-doping policies and suggested that she face “the appropriate consequences” according to ESPN.

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