Canada to consider options to appeal decision to redistribute 2022 Olympic medals in team tournament

The Canadian Figure Skating Federation (Skate Canada) has expressed its disappointment with the decision of the International Skating Union (ISU) to disqualify the Russian figure skater. Kamila Valieva noting that the verdict highlights the importance of strict sanctions for anti-doping rule violations.

On Monday, the CAS suspended Valieva for four years for violation of anti-doping rules (trimetazidine, banned drug). The disqualification period begins on December 25, 2021. On Tuesday, the International Skating Union (ISU) announced that all of the athlete’s results since the sample collection date had been canceled. This also led to a review of the results of the 2022 Olympics team tournament, where the Russian team won. First place is now awarded to the American team, the Japanese are second and the Russians will receive bronze; the Canadians remain in fourth position and will not receive a medal.

— Skate Canada is extremely disappointed with the position of the International Skating Union (ISU) regarding the highly anticipated presentation of figure skating team medals at the 2022 Olympic Games in Beijing.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled that in addition to the skater’s four-year ban, the ban includes “disqualification of all competitive results” achieved by Kamila Valieva since the positive test. The ISU, in its recent ruling, does not apply Rule 353, which states that “competitors who finish the competition and are initially ranked lower than the disqualified competitor will be promoted accordingly in their place.”

Skate Canada strongly disagrees with the ISU’s position on this issue and will consider all options to appeal this decision, said a statement posted on the organization’s website.

The award ceremony for the winners of the team tournament has not yet taken place.