Major News For US Figure Skaters After Kamila Valieva Olympic Doping Case Takes U-Turn Over Court Announcement

Following the uproar, over the doping scandal involving Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva,18, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) dealt a blow in January by enforcing a four-year ban and revoking her gold medal from the team event at the 2022 Beijing Winter Games. This ruling was announced two years after the incident caused ripples in the figure skating community clouding Valieva’s future.

However, amidst the gloom, a glimmer of hope emerges as the CAS announces a hearing on Russia’s appeals regarding Valieva’s case. The outcome of this hearing could potentially overturn the ban, paving the way for Valieva’s redemption and the possibility of the US team receiving their rightful gold medal at the Paris Olympics in August.

The United States team, who came second in the team event, will now get the gold medal. But, are you a bit puzzled? Let’s break down how this all started. It all started in late 2021 when Kamila Valieva emerged as a top contender for the gold medal at the Beijing Olympics. when she was 15 years old, the rising star was swiftly making headlines for her exceptional performances on the ice. But her meteoric rise faced a sudden and staggering obstacle when reports emerged from Russian media outlets suggesting that she had failed a test for performance-enhancing drugs. This was the start of her downfall.

The rise and fall of Kamila Valieva- A timeline

The drama began during the Russian Figure Skating Championships on December 21, 2021. Competing amidst a field of formidable Olympic contenders, Valieva showed her prowess on December 24, 2021, in the short program, securing an impressive score of 90.38. The following day, during the free skate event, Valieva further solidified her dominance with a score of 193.10, leaving her competitors trailing by nearly 20 points. Her cumulative score of 283.48 marked a significant 35-point lead over the second-place contender. However, amidst her triumph, the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) collected a sample from Valieva for testing, casting a shadow over her remarkable achievements.

During the European Figure Skating Championships held in Tallinn, Estonia in January 2022 Kamila Valieva showcased her skills again in the women’s individual competition. Scoring 90.45, in the program she secured the leading position. She achieved a new record, for the highest score ever seen in this event.

Another breathtaking moment attributed to a figure skater occurred in February 2022 at the Beijing Winter Olympics, performing as part of the team event in the women’s single skating short program was Kamila Valieva. It has a very high overall rate of efficiency, scoring 90.18, she climbed to the top position and gave an amazing to-watch performance almost flawless where she performed a triple axel that placed the Russian Olympic Committee in the first level.

On February 7, 2022, she was again at her best, and in line with the ROC in team final free skate helping them secure their gold. But the off-cam drama was quite the opposite, especially when news that she is tested positive for prohibited substances which led her to a 30-day provisional suspension. Even in September-October 2022, the Russian Anti-Doping Agency decided to investigate the case of Valieva, but the results of the investigation were never disclosed due to the confidentiality of the case. Then, WADA complained about this delay raising concerns that led to the formulation of a formal notice issue to the Russian Anti-Doping Agency to venture the issue to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in case of non-resolution.

On January 13, 2023, the Russian Anti-Doping Agency determined that Valieva had used doping but stated that it was not due, to any fault or negligence resulting in no sanctions being imposed. The World Anti-Doping Agency expressed concerns about the decision’s compliance. They hinted at an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Subsequently from September 25, 2023, closed-door hearings took place at the Court of Arbitration, for Sport to address cases involving Valieva and anti-doping organizations.

Despite hopes for a resolution,

on September 28, 2023, the CAS announced a delay in proceedings due to the panel’s request for additional documentation, prolonging the already extensive wait for a verdict. Tracy Marek, CEO of U.S. Figure Skating, expressed disappointment over the delay, emphasizing the importance of transparency in such matters. Finally, on November 9, 2023, the final hearings concluded, with the CAS panel deliberating on the case and expected to deliver its decision by the end of January 2024.

At the end of January 2024, the Court of Arbitration for Sport delivered its verdict on Valieva, handing her a four-year ban from skating due to her Anti-Doping Rule Violation during the Russian Figure Skating Championships in December 2021. The decision led to the disqualification of all competitive results from December 25, 2021, onwards, including the stripping of gold medals from Russia in the team event at the Olympics, which were then awarded to the United States. Additionally, Valieva’s European Championships win was nullified, granting Shcherbakova the gold. Currently, the Court is set to hold a hearing on June 12th, 2024 for Russia’s appeals in the Kamila Valieva doping case.