Russian Figure Skater Kamila Valieva Receives Four-Year Ban from the Court of Arbitration for Sport
In a significant development on Monday, the doping controversy surrounding Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva took a decisive turn as the 17-year-old received a four-year ban. Switzerland’s Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) revealed that Valieva was found guilty of violating anti-doping rules based on her positive test before the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.
The ban is effective from December 25, 2021, the date of the sample collection. Anti-doping bodies worldwide welcomed the decision, with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) emphasizing the gravity of doping involving minors.
Valieva, at the age of 15, tested positive for trimetazidine, a heart medication known to enhance endurance. The results surfaced after the figure skating team event at the Beijing Winter Olympics, where Valieva led the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) to victory.
CAS's announcement is notable as it includes the disqualification of all competitive results achieved by Valieva since the positive test. While no medals have been awarded due to the doping controversy, the CAS ruling puts a spotlight on the International Skating Union (ISU) to handle the technicalities of reallocating medals.
Travis Tygart, CEO of the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), stressed the urgency for the ISU to address the medal reallocation promptly. The ISU welcomed CAS's decision and promised a detailed statement on the implications.
The decision was hailed by the CEO of the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC), Sarah Hirshland, as a significant victory for fair play and clean sport. CNN Sport reached out to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Japanese Olympic Committee, and the Russian Olympic Committee for further comments.
The resolution comes after nearly two years of negotiations among various anti-doping bodies. However, the continued uncertainty leaves skaters from the US, Japan, and Canada awaiting news about potential medal reallocation. Global Athlete, a sporting rights group, expressed concern about the prolonged waiting period for athletes to be awarded their due recognition.
The Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) commended CAS's ruling, emphasizing the importance of rigorous anti-doping measures in sports. The COC sees the decision as a crucial milestone in the long-standing case, extending congratulations to the affected Team Canada athletes for their exceptional performances and resilience during this extended process.