Athletistic / Figure skating. On November 10, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) completed its examination of the case of Olympic figure skating champion Kamila Valieva. The doping case of a Russian woman was considered in court.

The affair lasted almost two years

Valieva found herself at the center of a scandal during the 2022 Olympic Games in Beijing (China). After the Russian won the team championship as part of the national team, a huge scandal broke out. It turned out that the skater passed a positive doping test at the Russian Championship.

At the Olympics, they could not decide for a long time whether to allow the figure skater to compete in single skating. As a result, Valieva was still able to play. But against the background of a huge scandal, Camila became nervous, which is why she could not show herself properly. The big favorite only showed the 4th result, even though everyone predicted gold for her.

Additionally, the team championship gold medal is now in jeopardy. Nearly two years have passed since the Beijing Olympics, but the winners have still not received their awards!

Lawyer Anna Antseliovich believes that the CAS wants to complete consideration of the case by the second anniversary of the Olympic Games. The court has already said a decision will be made in early 2024.

“I think the decision will really be in January, if I understand correctly, they want to make a decision before the next anniversary of the Olympics, which took place in 2022. Making a decision in two months is very fast for the CAS.

I think that the referees are under pressure from the public, from the federations, from the athletes, and that the matter has dragged on for a long time. Everyone is waiting for a decision on the fate of the Olympic gold, a large number of parties are interested, so I think the CAS does not want to drag this matter out any further,” the TASS lawyer quotes.

WADA insists on annulment of results and disqualification

After completing the review of the case, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) confirmed that the organization demands that the Russian woman be severely punished. WADA insists on canceling Valieva’s results at the Olympics (that is, the Russian team may be deprived of gold).

“The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) appealed to CAS in the interests of fairness for athletes and clean sport. We are pleased to have been able to present our arguments to the panel of arbitrators and are now awaiting a decision .

“We have maintained our demand for a four-year disqualification period and the annulment of all the athlete’s results from the date of collection, including at the 2022 Beijing Olympics,” the statement said. AMA in a statement to TASS.

Kamila is actively supported in Russia

As expected, the figure skater is actively supported in Russia. For example, the famous producer and choreographer Ilya Averbukh has already stated that he does not care about the CAS verdict.

“There will be relief when the verdict is delivered. We will understand what territory we are on.

For me, Kamila is an absolutely wonderful figure skater, without any blemish. I don’t care what verdict they give,” Sport-Express quotes Averbukh.

Valieva was also supported by the honorary president of the International Skating Union (ISU), Alexander Lakernik.

“I don’t expect any verdict, because it’s not me who decides, but the CAS. I don’t know how they will decide. But I would like to say that Kamila is an exceptional phenomenon in figure skating. At the Beijing Olympics , she was an example of our sport that we will not see again for a long time.

I wish everyone understood this, no matter what, where and how. The way she skated in the team tournament is an example of what figure skating should be,” Lakernik quotes Sport-Express.

Valieva returns to the ice

Interestingly, Valieva will take to the ice today, November 11. She will perform for the first time this season. Kamila will take part in the Russian Grand Prix in Kazan. Naturally, Athletistic will actively cover the competition. Given current events, it will be doubly interesting to watch Valieva.

Anton Mozgovoy, Athletistic


@sportru