American figure skater Mariah Bell appreciated the decision of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), according to which the organization will refuse to hold an awards ceremony if Russian Kamila Valieva is among the winners at the 2022 Olympic Games in Beijing. Her words are quoted by RIA Novosti.
The athlete called the decision wrong. “As for my feelings – yes, I’m upset, I think it’s wrong to punish people who have done nothing wrong,” Bell said.
On February 14, the IOC refused to hold the awards ceremony for the winners of the figure skating team tournament, where the Russian team took first place. The committee said that they would also refuse to award medals based on the results of the individual tournament, if Valieva is among the winners.
On the same day, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) allowed Valieva to participate in the Beijing Olympics. The athlete is in the lead after the short program in the individual figure skaters’ tournament.
Source: Lenta
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