BEIJING (Reuters) – Russian determine skating fans reacted with dismay at stories girls’s gold medal favourite Kamila Valieva failed a doping check, placing the Russian Olympic Committee’s (ROC) title within the staff occasion beneath a cloud.
Russian media reported Valieva had examined optimistic for a banned substance, after the ceremony to current Olympic medals to the 15-year-old and her staff mates in Beijing was delayed for unexplained authorized causes.
“Girl you might be wonderful. Don’t fear concerning the scandals,” a Russian Twitter consumer posted beneath the account identify “Nailu”.
“Some folks simply do not know easy methods to perceive the scenario accurately.
“You can deal with every part. No matter what, I’ll help you.”
Valieva was instrumental in serving to the ROC win gold within the staff occasion, dominating the ladies’s singles brief programme and free skate.
She additionally grew to become the primary girl to land quadruple jumps at an Olympics when she executed a quad Salchow and a quad toeloop together throughout the free skate.
One social media consumer stated stories of the optimistic doping check had been to sabotage the younger skater.
“Valieva is nice. They got here up with doping to knock her off her path. Apparently it is stopping somebody from profitable medals!” stated a Russian Twitter consumer beneath the identify “Cleopatra Carroll”.
Valieva skilled on the Beijing observe rink on Thursday however declined to reply questions from journalists. She is scheduled to skate within the girls’s singles brief programme on Tuesday.
The ROC on Wednesday declined to touch upon stories Valieva returned a optimistic check. The International Olympic Committee refused to touch upon Thursday, citing a authorized course of.
One Russian Twitter consumer urged folks to carry judgement till extra data got here to mild.
“Valieva is a powerful and gifted skater, little question,” a put up beneath the deal with @Nikitkabanditka stated.
“They discovered some type of drug, a probe is ongoing. Wait after which communicate. Maybe there may be an evidence to all of this? Why accuse everybody of conspiracy?”
(Reporting by Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber; Writing by Ian Ransom; Editing by Richard Pullin)
