The Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) has initiated an investigation into the staff of the Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva, the agency’s press service reports.
Valieva is a “protected person” under World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) regulations due to her age – a 15-year-old athlete. The figure skater cannot be officially identified as guilty, so all the main legal claims arise in relation to her environment. “Due to the fact that the athlete is a minor, RUSADA initiated an investigation into the figure skater’s staff. The purpose of this investigation is to identify all the circumstances of a possible anti-doping rule violation in the interests of a “protected person,” the report says.
The International Doping Testing Agency (ITA) confirmed that Valieva’s doping test tested positive for the drug trimetazidine. After that, RUSADA temporarily suspended Valieva from participating in the individual tournament of the Beijing Olympics, but on February 9, the figure skater challenged this decision and regained her right to participate. This decision turned out to be dissatisfied with WADA and the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Both organizations filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). According to representatives of WADA, the basis for the appeal was the incorrect, according to the organization, application of the World Anti-Doping Code. The International Skating Union (ISU) has not yet announced its intention to challenge RUSADA’s decision.
Russian figure skaters won gold medals in the team tournament of the Olympics. The award ceremony was supposed to take place on February 8, but it was postponed due to a positive doping test with Valieva.
Valieva is the current champion of Russia and Europe. She holds world records in all programs – short (90.45 points), free (185.29) and total points (272.71).