Russian figure skater's failed drug test confirmed

Kamila Valieva
Valieva has continued to practice for her individual event

The International Testing Agency has confirmed teenage Russian figure skater, Kamila Valieva, failed a drugs test in December.

The 15-year-old was part of the team which claimed figure skating gold on Monday but the medals were not awarded because of a “legal issue”.

The Russian Anti Doping Agency lifted her suspension, enabling her to continue at the Beijing Games.

But the International Olympic Committee has now appealed against that decision.

The ITA said Valieva – who was the first female skater to land a quadruple jump in competition – had a sample collected on Christmas Day at the Russian Figure Skating Championships in St Petersburg.

It was sent to the World Anti Doping Agency-accredited laboratory in Stockholm but the result was only reported on 8 February – the day after she won team gold but before the medal ceremony had taken place.

Valieva tested positive for trimetazidine, which is used in the prevention of angina attacks, but is on the Wada banned list.

She was provisionally suspended but challenged the decision and Rusada agreed to lift it on 9 February, .

The Court of Arbitration for Sport will now hear the case before her scheduled appearance in the individual event, which starts on 15 February.

Valieva has been seen training at the Capital Indoor Stadium in Beijing and is due to do so again on Friday.

IOC spokesman Mark Adams said he wanted a resolution “as quickly as possible” adding the medals will not be awarded until the outcome of the Cas hearing.

The United states finished second, Japan were third and Canada were fourth.

The ITA added the “reason decision, including the grounds for which the provisional suspension was lifted, will be issued shortly to all concerned parties”.

source: bbc.com