A verdict in the doping case involving Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva (17) is expected to be announced at the end of January 2024. The International Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) announced that the hearing had concluded with the parties’ final written submissions.
The case is before the Cas because the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) and the World Ice Skating Association (Isu) had lodged an objection against the ruling by the Russian anti-doping agency Rusada. The Rusada had only stripped Valieva of the national championship title, but had not imposed any further sanctions. “No guilt or negligence” could be proven.
The case caused a huge stir at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. It was only after the then 15-year-old won gold in the team competition that she had a positive doping test. Valieva tested positive for the banned drug trimetazidine at the national championships in December 2021.
WADA initiated the CAS procedure to obtain a four-year ban for Valieva. The Isu wants the Court of Arbitration for Sports to impose “a ban at its own discretion” and make a final decision on the results of the team competition at the 2022 Olympics. On the other hand, Rusada demands that Valieva be allowed to sanction autonomously in accordance with its guidelines.