In Russia, they pointed to a suspicious detail in the situation with the doping test of Valieva

If the problems with the doping test of the Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva had been known an hour before the Olympics, there would have been a replacement. The result would be the same – a medal, but with much fewer problems, says Olympic champion in speed skating, State Duma deputy Svetlana Zhurova. In a conversation with Lenta.ru, she indicated that this detail raises suspicions about the intentional nature of the situation.

“We are always waiting for some kind of trick, we don’t know where it will come from, and we are always afraid of it. On the one hand, indeed, the timing for the publication of the results was sufficient. But at the same time, now the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) can say, they say, you don’t have a laboratory, so there are difficulties. When it is, then you will demand that we meet the deadlines, but now, please, wait. We had European championships, grand prix, cups and so on, it is clear that the samples of the Russian athlete are not a priority, ”Zhurova suggested.

According to her, now the athletes and the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) are ready for any trick. In the case of a positive doping test with Valieva, all other athletes may also be at risk, the deputy noted. “I have no doubt that this story will be promoted,” she said.

Now WADA does not have a 100% understanding of how to act from a legal point of view, she noted. “While they have no guarantees that we will not win the court in which case. The suspension began with a medal won. There was a legal hitch, and now they themselves are at a loss, because they are trapped. In the end, I would like our team to keep the medal, because all the samples from the athletes are clean, ”concluded Zhurova.

Earlier, the ROC issued an official statement on the situation with the Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva, demanding detailed explanations on the situation.

On February 8, the ROC received information from the International Testing Agency that the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) had applied for a provisional suspension against Valieva. A notification was received from the Stockholm Anti-Doping Laboratory about an adverse result in Valieva’s doping test, which was taken on December 25, 2021 during the Russian Figure Skating Championships in St. Petersburg.

The sample contained the banned substance trimetazidine. The ROC clarified that the sample does not apply to the period of the Olympic Games. Before and after December 25, 2021, Valieva repeatedly passed doping tests, including in Beijing, during a figure skating tournament. All results were negative.

The suspension status means that Valieva has been ineligible to compete in Russian and international competitions since February 8. On February 9, hearings were held at the RUSADA Disciplinary Committee, which canceled the decision on the temporary suspension.

Now Valieva has the right to train and take part in competitions until the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) decides otherwise regarding Valieva’s status at the Olympics.