Russian Kamila Valieva has been cleared to compete in the individual figure skating competitions but there will be no medal ceremonies if the teenager finishes top three until a full investigation is completed, the IOC ruled Monday.
That includes the Russian Olympic Committee’s gold medal in last week’s team competition. The U.S. took silver in the event.
Instead, the IOC said it will “organize dignified medal ceremonies once the case of Ms. Valieva has been concluded.”
Valieva, 15, was cleared to compete by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which gave a favorable ruling in part because Valieva is a “protected person” as a minor, making rules different for her vs. an adult.
Valieva is considered the favorite for the women’s individual gold.
The United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) issued a statement expressing its disappointment with the ruling.
“We are disappointed by the message this decision sends,” USOPC CEO Sarah Hirshland said in the statement. “It is the collective responsibility of the entire Olympic community to protect the integrity of sports and to hold our athletes, coaches and all involved to the highest of standards.
Attributable to USOPC CEO Sarah Hirshland: pic.twitter.com/wbGUIR67eS
— USOPC News (@USOPC_News) February 14, 2022
“Athletes have the right to know they are competing on a level playing field. Unfortunately, today that right is being denied. This appears to be another chapter in the systemic and pervasive disregard for clean sports by Russia. We know this case is not yet closed, and we call on everyone in the Olympic Movement to continue to fight for clean sport on behalf of athletes around the world.”
The short program begins Tuesday and ends with the free skate on Thursday.
Valieva’s eligibility was thrust into doubt earlier this week when it was rumored she tested positive for a banned substance in December. She was part of the team representing the ROC that won the gold medal in the team competition earlier this week in Beijing, but that medals ceremony has been delayed.
On Friday, the International Testing Agency confirmed Valieva’s positive test, taken at the Russian national championship in December. The drug in question is Trimetazidine, used by patients to treat angina. It has been banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency since 2014.
While Valieva tested positive in Dec. 25, it was not reported until Feb. 8 — the day after the conclusion of the team event. Valieva became the talk of Beijing after she became the first woman in Olympics history to land a quadruple jump in competition.
–Field Level Media