US Figure Skating Team Asks CAS to Represent Valieva at Hearing

The US figure skating team has asked the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) for a seat for its representative at the upcoming hearing in the case of the Russian figure skater. Kamila Valieva reports journalist Christine Brennan on Twitter.

The appeals of the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA), the International Skating Union (ISU) and the International Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) against the decision of the Anti-Doping Disciplinary Committee (DAK RUSADA) in the Valieva case have been previously combined into a single procedure. CAS has scheduled closed hearings with representatives of all parties on September 26, 27, 28 and 29, 2023.

“We ask you for a simple request: to provide one of our representatives with a place of observation during the hearing in the case of an anti-doping rule violation by Kamila Valieva, because of which our beloved sport and the Olympic movement suffered.

The outcome of this hearing has a significant impact on our lives and careers. As an affected party, we ask that we be given the opportunity to observe the process,” reads the letter to CAS CEO Matthew Riba.

The letter addressed to Reeb was signed by American skaters who participated in the team tournament of the 2022 Olympics: Nathan Chen, Karen Chen, Vincent Zhou, Madison Hubbel and others.

Valieva at the 2022 Olympics in Beijing helped the Russian team win gold in the team competition. Before the personal tournament, it became known that the illegal drug trimetazidine was found during the doping test of the Russian championship figure skater. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has ruled that team tournament medals will not be awarded until Valieva’s case is closed. The American team took second place in the competition, the Japanese won the bronze medal.