The machinations continued until 2019 with the manipulation of data from the Moscow doping control laboratory. the WADA was able to trace many of the manipulations, which resulted in hundreds of suspected cases – the processing of which, as is now clear, is still far from complete.
CAS decides after IOC appeal
The same applies to the Valiyeva case. The 15-year-old was under the supervision of the Russian Anti-Doping Agency on December 25 RUSADA tested positive for TMZ. The sample was checked in WADAlaboratory in Stockholm. Just last Tuesday, one day after the team won the Olympics ROC with the outstanding Valiewa, the Swedes reported the positive result – whereupon the RUSADA issued a provisional suspension.
In turn, Valiyeva filed an objection to this on Wednesday. That same evening raised the RUSADA, which is still formally responsible because of the timing of the sampling in St. Petersburg, the suspension again after a hearing for reasons that are not yet known. A reason for this should be RUSADA according to the IT deliver shortly.
In turn, the International Olympic Committee lodged an objection against this lifting of the suspension, which will now be presented in the coming days by the ad hoc chamber of the International Court of Arbitration for Sport CAS to be decided in Beijing.
Not only legal dimension
With the objection wants that I.O.C probably not only prevent renewed allegations that it is too close to the great sporting power Russia. It also wants to bring about a quick, legally binding judgment from the highest sports arbitration court in order to be able to draw a line under the case at least for the time being. Because the individual competition in Beijing is coming up next Tuesday, in which Valiewa will go as the top favorite – or not at all.
One thing is certain: the case not only has a legal dimension, which seems to be clear: TMZ has been on the doping list since 2014 and is prohibited both in competition and in training. So far, nothing is known about a special permit (TUE) for Valiewa. And since athletes are themselves responsible for the substances found in their bodies under the sports law principle of reversing the burden of proof, there are many arguments in favor of Valiyeva being banned.
However, whether it is morally and ethically justified to transfer this responsibility to a 15-year-old is more than questionable. And if not you, then who? When the CAS a verdict will be presented is still unclear.
The pressure will be enormous until the decision is reached, because the case is already a huge political issue. Of all people USA would inherit the Russian gold should the team ROC the victory be denied. Susanne Lyons, President of the National Olympic and Paralympic Committee USAhas already stressed that nothing less than the integrity of the sport is at stake for her.