Winter Olympics: result ‘provisional’ if Kamila Valieva wins medal, as report says three substances found in her sample
- ‘The New York Times’ report says Valieva’s December positive test showed three types of heart medication, two of them not deemed prohibited
- IOC spokesman Mark Adams says the competition would be marked with an asterisk, and no flower ceremony, should Valieva make the podium
The results of the women’s figure skating event will be provisional should Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva win a medal, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said, as a report emerged that the Russian’s doping sample had three different substances used to treat heart conditions.
Valieva, 15, tested positive for the banned heart medicine trimetazidine in a sample taken at the Russian championships on December 25. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on Monday confirmed the lifting of a provisional suspension by a disciplinary committee of the Russian anti-doping body Rusada, turning down appeals from the IOC, the skating body ISU and the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada).
IOC spokesman Mark Adams said results from the skating competition would be marked with an asterisk, and no flower ceremony would be held, should Valieva make the podium.
She leads the competition, with the final round to be held Thursday. Adams, insisting Valieva’s welfare was “first priority, said the case was ongoing and it was inappropriate to draw any conclusions.
“As far as I’m aware, the B sample has not even been opened yet,” he said. “She is at the centre of a lot of speculation and it must be very tough for her. We all need to be very, very responsible of the way we discuss this issue and which I remind you has not been closed yet.”
Valieva helped Russia win Olympic team gold the day before news of the positive test arrived, the results of which are also considered provisional, Adams said.