Russian teen Valieva disqualified in Olympic doping case, Canada likely to be upgraded to bronze
CBC
Canada should be upgraded to bronze after Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva was disqualified from the 2022 Olympics on Monday, almost two years after her doping case caused turmoil at the Beijing Games.
The verdict from the Court of Arbitration for Sport means the Russians are set to be stripped of the gold medal in figure skating's team event.
The United States finished second and is set to be named Olympic champion instead. Japan originally finished third and Canada placed fourth.
"The Canadian Olympic Committee applauds the ruling by (CAS) to disqualify Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva from the 2022 Beijing Olympic Winter Games," the COC said in a statement. "This decision demonstrates the importance of rigorous anti-doping measures in sport, and we recognize that this is another important case in the fight for clean sport and upholding the Olympic values.
"We believe today's decision is an important milestone in this years-long case. We once again congratulate the affected Team Canada athletes for their incredible performances two years ago, and their enduring strength of character during this long process."
Should the Canadians be elevated to third, it would mean a bronze medal for Roman Sadovsky, Madeline Schizas, Kristen Moore-Towers, Michael Marinaro, Vanessa James, Eric Radford, Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier.
The International Olympic Committee decided not to present any medals for the event in Beijing, where the 15-year-old Valieva was the star performer hours before her positive test for a banned heart medicine was revealed.
"Skate Canada applauds the decision made by the Court of Arbitration for Sport regarding Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva's doping violation during the 2022 Winter Olympic Games," the organization said in a statement Monday.
"This ruling underscores the significance of stringent anti-doping measures and the need for continuous vigilance in protecting the integrity of figure skating and all sports."
CAS said it upheld appeals led by the World Anti-Doping Agency, which asked the court to disqualify Valieva from the Olympics and ban her. A Russian sports tribunal had cleared her of any blame.
The CAS judges banned her for four years, through December 2025 — about seven weeks before the next Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy.
The IOC is responsible for reallocating medals and its executive board is next scheduled to meet in March.
Canada finished fourth in the overall standings with 26 medals, one behind Germany. Norway was first with 37 medals and the Russian Olympic Committee was second with 32.
A message left with the Canadian Olympic Committee was not immediately returned.
