Trouble because of the “Valieva case”
US team doesn’t get its medals for now
2/19/2022, 6:09 p.m
The US figure skaters take silver in the team competition. Because of the doping scandal surrounding the Russian runner Kamila Valiewa, the IOC suspends the medal presentation. Instead of being able to celebrate with the precious metal they deserve, everyone is left empty-handed. It will stay that way for the time being.
After the doping case involving the Russian Kamila Valiewa, the Cas Sports Court rejected the US team’s application for an award ceremony before the end of the Winter Games. After the hearing, the panel discussed and decided to dismiss the lawsuit, the Cas said. According to a media report, the US team had requested an award ceremony before the end of the Winter Games.
Lawyers for the American team have informed the International Olympic Committee of their intention to appeal to the sports judges because of the urgency of the case, the AP news agency reported. In a letter to IOC President Thomas Bach, the US team referred to the IOC’s rules, according to which the medals had to be handed over at the end of each competition.
The US figure skaters had won team silver behind the Russians around Valiewa. Shortly thereafter, Valiyeva’s positive doping test from December became known. The medal presentation for the teams was therefore cancelled. The International Court of Arbitration for Sport Cas had allowed the European champion in an urgent procedure to also take part in the women’s singles.
However, the IOC decided that there would be no medal ceremonies involving the 15-year-olds in Beijing and that they should be made up for in a dignified manner after the end of the process. The US team was upset about it. In the individual, the medal winners got a medal ceremony, since Valiewa had dropped from gold to fourth place after a completely botched freestyle.