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| Hosts: Beijing, China Dates: 4-20 Februar |
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The World Anti-Doping Agency has stated that they will be investigating the adults who work with Kamila Valieva.
The Beijing Winter Olympics have been overshadowed by the failure of a Russian teenager to test for drugs. Her age raises questions about how a child could be involved in suspected doping.
Figure skater, who was just hours away from an Olympic hearing in Beijing, was practicing in Beijing on Sunday.
She arrived here looking for women’s silver.
The European champion, who A failed drug testOn Monday, December 2, she will be able to hear if she will compete in the Beijing individual women’s competition on Tuesday. If not, she will also find out if her team gold is being taken away.
A hearing will be held on Sunday at 12:30 GMT. The Court of Arbitration for Sport panel will then decide whether she should be suspended.
The International Olympic Committee had earlier asked for Wada, the global anti-doping organization, to investigate her entourage.
Wada later stated that hours later it would request its independent intelligence and investigation department to look into her coaches, doctors, and any other adults who were around her.
Remember the “human side” of stories
Valieva continues to train despite the uncertainty and media attention. Sometimes, Valieva looks tearful.
Soft toys found at the rink serve as a reminder of her young age. This is why the case was even more shocking than other failed drug tests.
Christophe Dubi, Olympic Games executive director, said that it was important to keep the “human side” of the story… to consider a person of 15 living in this situation.
“We have to be extremely careful with this situation.”
Who is in Valieva’s entourage
Sometimes, Valieva was embraced by Eteri Tutberidze one of her coaches during practice. She is now being referred to as part of the “entourage”
Tutberidze, in a brief interview with Russian television stated that she was sure the teenager was “clean” and “innocent”.
Her other coaches, Sergei Dudakov, Daniil Gleikhengauz and Filipp Shvetsky, were also present at the Beijing rink.
All the coaches hail from Moscow’s Sambo-70 club, which has produced many successful young skaters over recent years.
Alina Zagitova (Pyeongchang 2018 Champion), was 15 when she won the gold, and Evgenia Medvedeva (18) was the silver medallist. Yulia Lipnitskaya was 15 when she won Sochi 2014 team gold.
Russian skaters arrived Beijing with high expectations. The Russian women’s event was won by Alexandra Trusova (17) and Anna Shcherbakova (17). They finished behind Valieva at the European championships last year in a Russian 1-2-3.
They share the same coach and perform quadruple jumping together – which is the most difficult part of figure skating and very rare for women.
Trusova and Shcherbakova did not have any problems with their tests.
Future of Valieva in the hands of a three-person panel
According to the IOC, the Cas hearing will be about lifting Valieva’s provisional suspension imposed by Russia Anti-Doping Agency.
Rusada will hear the entire case. The drug test was performed at a national competition. Wada has the right to appeal against any decision.
Valieva was positive for trimetazidine in her urine at the Russian Figure Skating Championships, 25 December.
However, it was only reported by the Russian Olympic Committee on 8 February. This was the day she became the first woman to quadruple-jump at an Olympics.
The medal ceremony was delayed at short notice after the issue became public.
After the hearing, the medals for the team event (in which the United States came in second, Japan was third, and Canada fourth) will not be given.
Trimetazidine, which is used to prevent angina attacks is on the prohibited list. However, it is classified as a cardiac metabolic modifier and has been proven effective in improving physical efficiency.
After a successful challenge by Rusada to her provisional suspension, Valieva was granted permission to train.
However, Wada, the IOC and the International Skating Union have appealed against Rusada’s decision to allow Rusada to continue.
The Cas panel will include Fabio Iudica, the president of Italy, and Jeffrey Benz, an arbitrator from the United States, as well as Vesna Bergant Racocevic, a Slovenian representative.
