The State Duma commented on the situation with Valieva’s doping test

Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Physical Culture and Sports Dmitry Svishchev commented on the situation with a positive doping test of the Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva. His words are quoted by News.ru.

The State Duma deputy said that in a case with a positive doping test, it is necessary to wait for the decision of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The court will make a decision by February 15. He stressed that the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) can be contacted for clarification of the situation, why Valieva’s positive test became known only during the Beijing Olympics, and not in December, when the test was passed. However, he added, RUSADA is a non-profit public organization, so they may not provide an explanation.

“The main thing is that it does not look like pressure from the state. This is what we went through, this is what they tried to reproach us for. Most importantly, Valieva’s all subsequent tests were negative, ”concluded Svishchev.

Valieva’s dubious doping test, in which traces of a prohibited drug were allegedly found, became known on February 9. The Inside The Games portal reported that the test was passed before the start of the Olympics – in December 2021. In this regard, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has postponed the award ceremony of the team tournament of the Olympics.

On February 11, the International Testing Agency (ITA) reported that Valieva’s sample had tested positive for trimetazidine. A drug used to prevent angina pectoris was found in a sample taken at the Russian Championship, which was held in St. Petersburg.

The IOC has filed an appeal with CAS against RUSADA’s decision to lift Valieva’s suspension from the Beijing Games. Her case will be considered by a special commission before the start of the individual tournament at the Games.