Wada is ‘worried’
Russia leaves Valiyeva’s doping case unpunished
01/13/2023, 7:56 p.m
At the Olympic Games in Beijing, the Russian figure skater Kamila Valiyeva produced the most sensational doping case. The then 15-year-old tested positive before the games, but was still allowed to start – and won a medal. Now the case is closed, at least from the point of view of the Russian Anti-Doping Agency.
Russian figure skater Kamila Valiewa has been acquitted of a culpable doping offense by her country’s anti-doping agency (Rusada). As the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) announced, Rusada had found a violation of the doping rules by the 16-year-old, but “no fault or negligence” on the part of the team Olympic champion.
Wada said she was “concerned” about Rusada’s verdict. You have now requested the justification for the decision and, if necessary, want to go to the International Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS). European champion Valiewa tested positive for the banned substance trimetazidine on December 25, 2021 at the Russian championships. The only sanction that Rusada recognized was the result of the title fights.
The case became known at the Winter Olympics in Beijing last February, after the then 15-year-old Valiyeva won Olympic gold with the Russian team. A provisional suspension had been lifted, so she was also allowed to compete in the women’s singles and finished fourth as the top favorite. In the team competition, the USA took second place and Japan third.
Most recently, Wada had already brought the case to the Cas because they accused Rusada of an unreasonable delay in processing. In the arbitration proceedings subsequently initiated by the Cas, Wada had already demanded a four-year ban for Valiyeva.