Beijing (AP) – In the whirl of the open medal award in the Olympic team competition for figure skaters, the IOC has described reports of a doping case as “speculation”.
“It would be inappropriate for us to comment on an ongoing legal process,” said Mark Adams, spokesman for the International Olympic Committee. The award ceremony planned for Tuesday in the competition had previously been postponed without further explanation.
According to media reports, the reason could be a possible positive doping test by a participant before the Winter Games in Beijing. “We will not comment on all possible speculation,” Adams said. He generally pointed out that the IOC had transferred all doping tests and the decision on possible sanctions to the International Test Agency (Ita) and the International Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas).
The figure skaters from Russia had won the team competition ahead of the USA and Japan. When asked about an implication of one of their athletes, Russian officials said they had not received any official information about it.
IOC spokesman Adams could not say whether the medal award can be decided before the end of the Winter Games on February 20. “We ask and hope for the patience and understanding of all affected athletes,” he said. The bodies involved would work “very quickly”.
One problem: As part of the strict corona measures, foreign Olympic participants are recommended to leave China no later than two days after their last competition. It is therefore unclear whether the medal ceremony can still be made up for. The IOC is also in talks with the world association ISU on the matter.