“She Lost Her Battle”: Amidst Kamila Valieva’s Case, US Figure Skating Mourns the Passing Away of Team Member From Beijing Olympics

The 2022 Winter Olympics took an unexpected turn when Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva faced disqualification almost two years after her doping case. It initially sent shockwaves through the Beijing Games. The recent verdict from the Court of Arbitration for Sport not only casts a shadow over the Russian team’s gold medal in figure skating‘s team event but also reshapes the narrative for the United States, now poised to be named Olympic champion.

However, amid this upheaval, news broke about the passing of an Olympic doctor. For the skating community, this was a double blow as it highlighted the unpredictable twists that competitive sports can bring.

A legacy remembered

Madison Chock, an American skater, recently shared a heartbreaking story on Instagram. It was about the passing of Dr. Kristin Abbott due to breast cancer.  She was deeply involved in supporting athletes and volunteering for the United States Figure Skating Association. Dr. Abbott served as the physician for Team USA figure skaters at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing.

Kamila Valieva’s disqualification sparks US skating team’s Gold dream

Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva tested positive for a banned heart medicine. In response to this doping violation, the IOC has opted not to allocate any medals for that particular event. “Having carefully considered all the evidence put before it,” the court said in a statement, adding, “the CAS panel concluded that Ms. Valieva was not able to establish, on the balance of probabilities and on the basis of the evidence before the Panel, that she had not committed the (doping violation) intentionally.” They decided to disqualify Valieva from the Olympics and imposed a four-year ban lasting until December 2025.

Read More: Kamila Valieva Doping Case: How Did the Drug Trimetazidine Jeopardize the Figure Skater’s Career

This decision paved the way for the U.S. team, which initially took silver, to be upgraded to gold. The IOC is responsible for reallocating medals. Its executive board is scheduled to meet in March to address this matter. The legal chaos surrounding Valieva’s case stems from delayed notifications of her positive test. This allowed her to continue competing at the Olympics despite the controversy.

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