“Self-interested Decision”
Russian verdict in Valiyeva case sparks outrage
01/14/2023, 06:09 p.m
Even a year after the Olympic team competition in figure skating, it is unclear whether the result will stand or not. Russia acquits Kamila Valiyeva, who tested positive – but doping experts around the world consider that a mistake. Now the CAS should come into play once more.
WADA is “concerned” and is threatening further legal action, America’s number one doping hunter “cannot possibly accept” RUSADA’s “selfish decision” – and the IOC is pushing for clarification “without further undue delay”. The latter, however, seems utopian: the case of the Russian figure skating princess Kamila Valiewa is well on the way to becoming a never-ending story.
After much hesitation, a tribunal of the Russian anti-doping agency RUSADA has made its decision in the case of the European champion: After the positive test before the Olympic Winter Games in Beijing, which RUSADA itself had taken, a penalty against the 16-year-old is waived . Almost a year after the Olympics, the rating in the team competition is still marked with an asterisk. And parts of the sports world are stunned.
Russia had triumphed with an impressive Valiyeva last February – but no medals were awarded because during the Beijing Games a urine sample taken by Valiyeva at the Russian championships in mid-December 2021 contained the banned drug trimetazidine.
However, the ad hoc commission of the International Court of Arbitration for Sport CAS allowed Valiyeva in Beijing to take part in the individual decision a few days later. After taking first place in the short program, the exceptional talent collapsed under public pressure in the freestyle and fell back to fourth place. Since then there has been a standstill. In many ways.
“No Fault or Negligence”
A few days after the Olympic flame went out, Russia began its war of aggression against Ukraine. The sports nation – which competed in Beijing without a country name, flag and anthem because of doping violations – and its athletes initially disappeared from the international scene. And with it the case of Valiyeva.
However, WADA kept up the pressure on the RUSADA, which was closed until December 17, 2022. Because the Russians continued to drag the case, the World Anti-Doping Agency called the CAS. And in view of the latest development, it is likely to turn on the court in Lausanne again, although WADA expressly reserved the right to challenge it in its statement.
The RUSADA tribunal had previously concluded that while Valiyeva committed an anti-doping rule violation, “no fault or negligence” was found. In addition, Valiyeva, who was 15 when the positive sample was taken, should be considered a “protected person”.
For Tygart, it’s about credibility
WADA is now requesting the full reasoning of the judgment to determine if it is consistent with the World Anti-Doping Code. The International Olympic Committee welcomed the announcement and said when asked that the matter should be “dealt with as soon as possible”. Could the runners-up from Beijing – the USA – still be happy about gold from the heart today?
Others have already made their decision, such as Hajo Seppelt. “Ridiculous – that happens in non-democratic, non-transparent sports structures. (…) Russian sport does not seem to be able to build credible independent structures. But the IOC wants Russian athletes in Paris,” wrote the ARD doping expert Twitter.
Also for Travis Tygart, head of the US agency USADA, there is no mistake. WADA and the ISU would have to “appeal against this decision in order to protect the credibility of the anti-doping system and the rights of all athletes”. “The world cannot possibly accept this self-serving decision. Justice demands a full, fair and public hearing outside of Russia,” Tygart said.