Andrey Timchuk, a lawyer for the Delcredere Bar Association, in a commentary to Lente.ru, appreciated the decision of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to lift the temporary suspension from the Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva.
“CAS made a logical and informed decision. He issued, in fact, an interim verdict, and if he had banned the athlete from further participation in competitions, then she would have been de facto punished, although she had not yet been found guilty. Taking into account all the circumstances (the age of the athlete, the low concentration of the substance, the possibility of it entering the body with a contaminated product), a temporary suspension would look like an excessive measure that would clearly violate the balance of interests of the parties and the rights of the athlete. Therefore, CAS, in fact, simply fixed the situation: the athlete can continue to participate, and the final decision will be made later, ”said the lawyer.
At the same time, according to him, little has changed globally in the case. “The consideration of the anti-doping case on the merits will continue. The athlete can still be found guilty, in which case her results at the Olympics will be cancelled. It can also be assumed that the final verdict will be issued by CAS, because whatever decision is made by the anti-doping organization that will consider the case, it will most likely be challenged by one of the parties – either the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) or the athlete, ”concluded advocate.
Earlier, on February 14, WADA condemned the decision to allow Valieva to the Olympics. The agency added that an independent intelligence and investigation department will study the case of the Russian woman. In accordance with the provisions of the juvenile code, WADA will investigate the figure skater’s support staff.
Earlier on February 14, CAS lifted Valieva’s temporary suspension. The figure skater was allowed to participate in the individual tournament at the 2022 Olympic Games in Beijing. The reason was the status of the “protected person” of the athlete and the late notification of a positive doping test.
Source: Lenta
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