LAUSANNE, Switzerland (Reuters) – The International Olympic Committee has instructed anti-doping our bodies it wants a fast decision of a medication scandal involving teenage Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva on the Beijing 2022 Olympics so {that a} delayed medals ceremony can proceed.
Valieva failed a doping take a look at on the Russian nationwide championships final December however the outcome was solely revealed on Feb. 8, a day after she had already helped the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) win the workforce occasion on the Beijing Games.
The case forged a shadow on the participation of Russians on the Games as they already confronted elevated scrutiny over separate doping sanctions that noticed them compete with out their nationwide flag and nationwide anthem.
It additionally delayed indefinitely the medals ceremony for the workforce occasion pending the continued case, with the United States having claimed silver, and Japan taking bronze.
Canada completed fourth and will the Russian athletes be disqualified then they stand to be upgraded to bronze.
“We are involved on this. The World Anti-Doping Agency and the International Testing Agency are following up on this,” IOC President Thomas Bach instructed a information convention on Friday.
“This isn’t one thing we needs to be guessing however work in a approach in order that it (medals ceremony) occurs as soon as possible.”
The case is presently within the fingers of the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) as the optimistic take a look at got here throughout a home competitors.
The U.S Olympic and Paralympic Committee have questioned the integrity of the continued case with RUSADA after Valieva was praised by Russian President Vladimir Putin at a ceremony in April.
“This is within the fingers of anti-doping authorities. We have made it clear to them we hope for a quick and fast decision of the difficulty,” Bach stated. “Once it’s resolved we can have this ceremony.”
(Reporting by Karolos Grohmann; modifying by Martyn Herman)
