The doping case involving the Russian figure skater Kamila Valiewa is likely to drag on for many more months. Sports show doping expert Hajo Seppelt is convinced of this. “The procedure will take a long time. According to the regulations, it will take six months before a decision has to be made.”Seppelt explained on Wednesday (March 23, 2022) during a sports show broadcast from the World Figure Skating Championships in Montpellier.
Seppelt: “Fear case will be politicized”
There was a doping scandal about Valiyeva at the Olympic Games in Beijing. The 15-year-old European champion was found to have taken trimetazidine, which is not permitted. The case against the skating “prodigy” lies with the Russian Anti-Doping Agency RUSADA.
Seppelt questions whether the RUSADA can decide impartially: “We know how politically influenced the anti-doping policy in Russia is”says the doping expert and adds with regard to the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine: “Against the background of the war and the global political situation, will Russian anti-doping fighters ban Valiyeva or not? In Russia, she is considered a major victim of Western machinations.”
So what comes out of the doping trial against Valiewa stands “completely in the stars. I fear that the case will be completely politicized”according to Seppelt.
contradiction after RUSADA-Decision?
However, self means a RUSADA-Valieva’s acquittal does not automatically mean that the figure skater will actually compete again next winter. Both the World Anti-Doping Agency WADA and the International Skating Federation ISU have the chance against one RUSADA-Decision to appeal. “I have insight into the documents that the World Anti-Doping Agency submitted to the Court of Arbitration for Sports CAS. It was very clear that the WADA does not believe the arguments of Valieva’s lawyers”explains Seppelt.
Grandfather’s water glass…
Valiyeva said she drank from a glass of water contaminated with her grandfather’s heart medicine.
Valiewa’s ultimately positive doping test had already been taken in December, but was only evaluated shortly after the start of the Olympic Games. Valiyeva was initially suspended after winning the team gold medal, but the suspension was later lifted. The Russian went into the individual competition as the big favorite, but only finished fourth.
Waliewa at “Channel One” Cup at the start
In the Russian media nothing can be read about the Valiyeva doping case these days. Instead, the broadcaster’s website reports “Match tv” about Valiyev’s award “with the Order of Friendship of the Russian Republic of Tatarstan for the Olympic champion.” Valiyeva also returns to the ice this week. The 2020 World Junior Champion will compete at a championship of the Russian tv-Sender “Channel One” at the start. Olympic champion Anna Shcherbakova will also be at the start of the competitions on March 26th and 27th.