Kamila Valieva made history when she landed the first-ever quadruple jumps by a woman at the Olympics on her way to winning a gold medal.
But reports from Russian media claim she has returned a positive test for a banned medication.
The 15-year-old was part of the Russia Olympic Committee (ROC) team that finished first in the figure skating team event ahead of the United States and Japan.
However, the medal ceremony was postponed for what an International Olympic Committee (IOC) spokesman labeled as “legal consultation.”
Valieva’s age provides further complication to the case, as the World Anti-Doping Agency’s code says it isn’t obligatory to name minor athletes under the age of 18 who are caught with a doping violation.
According to reports in Russia, Valieva’s positive sample was taken two months ago. The substance in question is said to be cardiac drug trimetazidine which, according to Russian journalist Vasily Konov, doesn’t enhance performances in any way.
“There is no doping in the conventional sense. No! This cardiac drug has no impact on … performance,” he wrote on his Facebook page. “Now leave Kamila in peace.”
The Russian Olympic Committee has so far not made a significant response to media requests.
Figure skating is considered a prestige sport in Russia. The country takes pride in its Olympic and world championships record, and stripping the figure skating team of their medals would likely result in a national outcry.
Russian athletes are competing in Beijing without their flag and anthem due to previous doping violations.
Gold medals
After failing to win gold in the 2018 Games, Nathan Chen secured the men’s figure skating gold medal for the USA after a dazzling performance to the sound of Elton John’s “Rocket Man.” The 22-year-old scored 218.63 points, with Japan’s Yuma Kagiyama and Shoma Uno ending up with the silver and bronze medals.
Defending champion Yuzuru Hanyu finished 4th, and also failed in his attempt to make history by landing the first quad axel in competition.
Nathan Chen took out gold in the men’s free skate.
That wasn’t the only gold medal for the United States either. Chloe Kim won the women’s snowboard halfpipe final with a score of 94.00 points. The 21-year-old said that she also had to overcome a “mental battle” to secure gold, saying she was “not in a good place” before the event. The silver medal went to Spain’s Queralt Castellet, while Japan’s Sena Tomita claimed bronze.
Beijing Winter Olympics 2022 Digest: Doping controversy in figure skating
Source: Pinoy Pop News
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