BEIJING (Reuters) – On the sidelines of the doping scandal involving Russian determine skater Kamila Valieva, the skaters of Team Japan are hoping to obtain their medals for the determine skating team occasion in Beijing, the Japan Olympic Committee stated on Sunday.
“They’re probably not fascinated with the doping situation or what medal they will get. They’re extra in the medal ceremony and questioning whether or not they are going to be ready to acquire their medals whereas in Beijing,” Japan’s chef de mission, Hidehito Ito, informed a information convention.
The Japanese skaters got here third in the team determine skating occasion on Monday, behind Russia and the United States, earlier than information broke of a constructive doping take a look at involving 15-yr-previous Valieva, a part of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) ensemble that gained the occasion.
Valieva’s future on the Games is due to be determined after a Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) listening to at 8:30 p.m. Beijing time (1230 GMT).
The groups from the United States and Japan are additionally awaiting the ultimate outcomes.
“The athletes are a bit dissatisfied that they’ve to look ahead to the medal ceremony to occur – that they had actually labored so arduous for that medal,” Ito stated.
The chef de mission stated the Japan Olympic Committee would settle for the outcomes of the doping case.
“It’s a disgrace that the timing of the medal ceremony hasn’t been determined but, however it does not concern Japan, so we wish to chorus from commenting on Valieva’s case,” Ito stated.
“We consider that the related organisations will take the mandatory steps so we can’t touch upon the difficulty,” he stated.
(Reporting by Sakura Murakami; Editing by Robert Birsel)
