After Denying Americans Olympic Gold Russian Athlete Finally Faces a Trial

As an athlete, doping is the last thing that could lead you to success. While performance-enhancing drugs are common in the world of athleticism, they are illegal if you’re competing. However, over the years, many athletes have had their shot at PEDs and other drugs to get the upper hand, and some have even gone scott-free for doing so. In an ecosystem where winning is everything, trying to get every advantage over your competitors is understandable. But there have to be lines drawn somewhere.

Athletes train incredibly hard to reach the Olympics and pour their all into the competition. It must be incredibly disheartening to find out you lost out to a competitor who had an unfair advantage. Enter Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva. Valieva tested positive for a banned substance, trimetazidine while competing in 2021. However, her result remained under cover until her competition ended and Valieva emerged victorious.

Doping Scandal in Russia

The hearing case for Kamila Valieva has been adjourned until November. As of now, a group of arbitrators is trying to find further evidence to incriminate the Russian figure skater. Valieva’s doping allegations stem from a test conducted in December 2021, when she tested positive for trimetazidine. While Trimetazidine (TMZ) is a medication used to treat heart-related conditions, it also helps metabolize fatty acids. This would give Valieva a significant leg-up over her competitors before competing.

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However, although her results were ready in December 2021, they only went out to the public until after she won gold at the 2022 Winter Olympics. Initially, a Russian committee investigated the matter and decided that Valieva was innocent. However, since, the International Skating Union launched an appeal to CAS; the sport’s highest court.

As of now, the case has been adjourned till November to allow arbitrators to provide further proof of Valieva’s doping. The hearings will resume on November 9-10 after which the International Skating Union will decide if the Russian is guilty or innocent.

What’s Next for Valieva

For now, the International Skating Union wants to have RUSADA’s initial verdict to be stricken off the record. Further, they are looking to sanction Valieva with a period of ineligibility. As for Valieva’s Gold medal, the ISU wants CAS to decide the fate of the event she won if she is guilty of doping. Surprisingly, the Olympic Committee welcomed Valieva’s participation despite knowing she had tested positive for doping.

At the moment, the Anti-Doping Agency wants to slap a four-year ban on Valieva for her transgressions. They would also call for her to be disqualified from every event that she participated in throughout 2021. Meanwhile, Valieva maintains her innocence. She attributes the positive drug test to a mix-up involving her grandfather’s heart medication.

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