Beijing, Europe Brief News – Fifteen years Old Russian ice skating star Kamila Valieva may face a ban to get into the winter Olympics after the international testing agency showed she tested positive for banned heart medication.
Valieva tested positive exactly a day after she starred in the Russian Olympic committee’s victory in Beijing. Her team was being successful in challenging the provisional suspension.
The International olympic committee and ITA are now questioning the lifting of the provisional suspension. They seem concerned to see her participating in the future games.
Valieva’s situation has been made complex by the World anti doping agency ruling method which states that the athletes under 16 are ‘protected persons’. And the rule of strict liability does not apply to them.
After a series of appeals registered to look into the matter which means this case will now be presented before the court of arbitration for sports to make a final decision.
The medals are currently on hold and the teams will get them once the final decision comes out on the Valieva doping case.
A spokesman of the Russian Olympic committee said “take comprehensive measures in order to protect the rights and interests of the members of the ROC team and preserve the honestly won Olympic gold medal”.
Medallist deserve their moments
Valieva, who is the overwhelming favourite to win the women’s single competition, was practising at the indoor stadium in Beijing.
Russian athletes are taking part in competitions under the name of the Russian Olympic committee because Russia received a two year ban in 2019. The time frame for the ban was initially for 4 years which after changes reduced to 2 years.
Eric Myles, chief sport officer of the Canadian Olympic said “ it is important that a fair process unfolds and the integrity of sport is protected. Our hope is that this issue is resolved quickly and the medalists get the medal moment they have earned here in Beijing”.
Germany’s Katarina Witt, a two time Olympic figure skating champion said “ Kamila Valieva is a young girl and child prodigy, whose highly difficult performances and grace enchanted the whole world at only 15, a minor depending on adults and she is not to blame here”.
