Paris Olympics 2024: Weeks After Kamila Valieva Doping Case, U.S. Figure Skating Team Will Receive Proper Ceremony

Before the Paris Olympics 2024, the sports community came out heavily, calling out the lackadaisical approach from the governing committees to handle Kamila Valieva’s case. The ROC figure skater was bound to face a cumbersome penalty from the judging board, CAS, because of her intake of banned substances. So eventually, her national ROC team that won the 2022 figure skating gold in the Beijing Winter Olympics was bound to lose it. As the rule dictates, the runner-up American team should get the top podium now. But, the fiasco is still on, with adding new chapters. 

In Beijing itself, the organizers barred the winning teams from that event from having a medal ceremony, as Kamila Valieva’s revelation could take place just after the ultimate game ended. Now, a special development dictating the medal ceremony’s future has come out. 

The Paris Olympics 2024 might see a Winter Olympics winning squad 

As the debates around Kamila Valieva’s suspension indicate to settle, the unfortunate US figure skating team has come up with a demand. Last time, several team members argued to take their gold medal in a similar razzmatazz as it could have been in the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. Now, in a turn of events, the team has narrated to take their figure skating gold medal in the upcoming Paris Olympics platform. The sports raconteur from USA Today, Christine Brennan, has shed much light on the issue. Through her X-post on February 27, the columnist added, “Olympic medal ceremony update: all nine members of the 2022 U.S. figure skating team want to have their gold-medal ceremony at the 2024 Paris Olympics, USOPC says. Pending IOC approval, it would occur the second week of the Games Aug. 4-11 and include a celebration at USA House.”

As of now, the Olympic committee has still been keeping a pin-drop silence. But after measuring the situation’s gravitas, one can expect a confirmed decision on this in a short while. However, the situation might still pan out to be conflicting for several reasons. 

The stakeholders raise issues 

On January 29, 2024, the International Skating Union sealed its final verdict on publishing the reformed chart of the medal achievers. Despite showcasing the US at the top and Japan in second, the chart still had the third place for the ROC team. That infuriated Canada, as the figure skating team had to stay behind the ROC who dealt with the blot for the mentioned crime. However, the ISU officials have already informed the stakeholders that the current standing has come after shaving Valieva’s points from the total earnings.

Read more: Days After Doping Ban, Kamila Valieva Breaks Silence

But the aghast Canadian team has threatened to go through a legal battle to dismiss ROC’s chance to earn the bronze medal. In reply, the ROC officials are still hopeful about filing another case showing their rights to the earned gold medal. However, as the situation is rolling on before the Paris Olympics 2024, they have a meek chance to overturn the ruling the CAS served. So the situation is yet to find a solidification. 

Also read: Amidst Kamila Valieva Doping Scandal, International Skating Union Shares Olympic Medal Update