Russian Figure Skater Can Compete but Won’t Receive Medals
The New York Times
Arbitrators cleared Kamila Valieva to continue competing in the Beijing Olympics despite failing a doping test, but officials said they would withhold medals until her case is resolved.
The Russian figure skating star at the center of doping questions at the Beijing Olympics will be allowed to continue to compete despite failing a doping test weeks ago, but officials will not conduct an awards ceremony or hand out medals in any event she wins until her case is resolved.
The International Olympic Committee took the extraordinary step of serving notice that the athlete, Kamila Valieva, 15, would stay off the podium, as would the other medalists in her events, because of lingering doubts about her eligibility. Valieva became a face of the Games as she helped her Russian team win an earlier competition, and is widely seen as the favorite to win the women’s singles event that begins on Tuesday.
“Should Ms. Valieva finish amongst the top three competitors in the women’s singles skating competition, no flower ceremony and no medal ceremony will take place during the Olympic Winter Games,” the Olympic committee said in a statement. It also confirmed that no ceremony will be conducted during the Games for the team event that Russia won last week.
