WADA issues new statement on Valieva case

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has announced its position on the case of Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva. The new text is available on the agency’s website.

WADA considered that the decision of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which allowed the 15-year-old Valiyeva to participate in the individual tournament of the Beijing Olympics, was contrary to the agency’s code. As noted in the statement, this will have consequences and may lead to the recurrence of similar cases in the future.

WADA did not agree with the decision of CAS and announced the role of RUSADA in the case of Valieva

The WADA statement emphasizes that CAS has rewritten the agency’s code, deciding to allow Valieva to participate in the individual tournament. “This will allow athletes in the status of protected persons (athletes under the age of 16 or from 16 to 18 years old who do not compete at the international level – approx. “Tapes.ru”) to participate in tournaments, despite positive doping tests, without any explanation of the reasons, ”the text says.

In addition, WADA notes the role of the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) in the Valieva case. RUSADA, according to WADA, is responsible for effective communication with the laboratory to ensure timely analysis of doping samples. The Russian agency did not notify the laboratory in Stockholm of the special status of Valieva’s test and the need for urgent research.

The head of the IOC commented on the scandal around Valieva

President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Thomas Bach spoke to reporters and answered questions about the Valieva scandal. The head of the IOC noted that the organization did not want to see a Russian woman among the participants in the Games, but he respects the decision of CAS. “If we don’t respect the law, there will be no international sport,” Bach added.

In addition, Bach stressed that the IOC demanded to investigate the circumstances of the situation with Valieva. According to him, the environment of the Russian athlete may face sanctions. Severe measures, as he noted, can also be applied to Valieva’s coach Eteri Tutberidze.

CAS confirmed the possibility of Valieva getting trimetazidine from her grandfather’s medicine

Earlier, CAS published the text of the reasoned decision in the case of the Russian woman. In it, the court confirms the possibility of a prohibited drug entering the body of an athlete through a product that her grandfather used. The publication also emphasizes that the microdose of trimetazidine did not improve athletic performance.

“The most likely route for a banned substance to enter the body of an athlete is a domestic interaction with her grandfather, who takes trimetazidine after heart surgery and usually carries this medicine with him,” the message says.

Valieva was not included in the number of prize-winners according to the results of the personal tournament of figure skaters at the Olympics

CAS allowed Valieva to participate in the individual tournament. The Russian was in the lead after the short program, but failed to hold on to first place and eventually dropped to fourth with 224.09 points.

Bach commented on the performance of the 15-year-old Russian woman, noting that he was upset with the result. He noted that Valieva performed under enormous pressure.

Another Russian woman, 17-year-old Anna Shcherbakova, became the winner of the personal figure skater tournament. Silver was won by Alexandra Trusova. Like Valieva, they train under the guidance of Tutberidze.