In the ‘”open legal question” the Russian figure skating team appears to have had a positive doping test. As reported by Russian media, 15-year-old Kamila Valeva is said to have tested positive for the stimulant trimetazidine. This threatens the 2022 Winter Games with the first major doping case.
I.O.C-Speaker Adams: “speculations”
Mark Adams, spokesman for the International Olympic Committee (I.O.C), commented on the relevant reports: “We will not comment on all possible speculation.” He also pointed out that the IOC forwards all doping tests and decisions on sanctions to the International Testing Agency (IT) and the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) transferred. Adams added: “It would be inappropriate for us to comment on an ongoing legal process.”
Underage athletes under the age of 16 are also considered “protected persons” under the rules of the World Anti-Doping Agency. Their names may not be made public in connection with a violation.
Initially, the industry portal “insidethegames” reported on the case, also the Russian newspapers “Kommersant” and “RBC” named their own sources. According to “RBC” Valjewa, who is also the favorite for the individual competition (from Tuesday, February 15, 2022), should “small amount” of the drug, which is prescribed, among other things, for the prophylaxis of angina.
Positive test from before the games
According to this, Valeva is said to have tested positive for the banned drug before the games. The US American tv-Channel “NBC” According to the sample was taken in December. The only 15-year-old figure skating superstar had won the European Championship in January and thus won her first major international title.
Since 2014 on WADA-List
Trimetazidine can also be used to keep blood flow to the heart during vigorous exercise. The substance has been on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s banned list since 2014 WADA.
Chinese swim star Sun Yang was also caught using the drug in 2014 and banned for three months. The same substance was discovered in the Russian bobsledder Nadesha Sergeyeva at the 2018 Winter Games in Pyeongchang.
ROC-Team won the team competition
In the figure skating team competition, the team of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) on Monday (02/07/2022) with Valjewa and Mark Kondratiuk (both singles), Anastasia Mischina and Alexander Galljamow (pairs) as well as Wictoria Sinizina and Nikita Kazalapow (ice dance) clearly prevailed and won gold. The medal award a day later was because of a “open legal question” been postponed.
“Kamila has not yet been suspended from participating in the games,” said Olga Yermolina, spokeswoman for the Russian Figure Skating Federation, according to an urgent report by the TASS news agency on Thursday. In Beijing, super talented jumper Valiyewa is the top favorite for gold in women’s singles on February 17th.
Russia formally banned for doping
Russia’s athletes are only allowed to compete at the Winter Games as a Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) team without anthem and flag. Because of the manipulation of doping data, the country is formally excluded from the Olympic Games until the end of the year. The World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) initially imposed a four-year ban. The International Court of Arbitration for Sports reduced it to two years.
Wada had already banned Russia in 2015 because of widespread doping. A fall in Beijing could jeopardize the country’s full resumption and lifting of the ban.
Source: dh/sid