US Olympic and Paralympic Committee CEO Sarah Hirshland has blasted the decision to allow Russian Kamila Valieva to compete in the women’s figure skating competition at the Winter Olympics after the teenager failed a pre-Games drug test.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport released its ruling less than 12 hours after a hastily arranged hearing that lasted into early Monday morning that the 15-year-old Valieva, the favourite for the women’s individual gold, does not need to be provisionally suspended ahead of a full investigation.
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The court gave her a favourable decision in part because she was a minor or “protected person” and was subject to different rules from an adult athlete.
“The panel considered that preventing the athlete to compete at the Olympic Games would cause her irreparable harm in the circumstances,” CAS Director General Matthieu Reeb said.
Now, Valieva and her fellow Russian skaters can aim for the first podium sweep of women’s figure skating in Olympic history.
In response, Hirshland said the USOPC was “disappointed by the message this decision sends” and suggested athletes were denied the confidence of knowing they competed on a level playing field.
“It is the collective responsibility of the entire Olympic community to protect the integrity of sport and to hold our athletes, coaches and all involved to the highest of standards,” Hirshland said in a statement.
“Athletes have the right to know they are competing on a level playing field. Unfortunately, today that right is being denied.
“This appears to be another chapter in the systemic and pervasive disregard for clean sport by Russia.
“We know this case is not yet closed, and we call on everyone in the Olympic Movement to continue to fight for clean sport on behalf of athletes around the world.”
At the rink Tuesday, the ice dance competition was decided as the CAS prepared its verdict.
Gold medalists Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron of France and American bronze medalists Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue offered, “No comment.”
Nikita Katsalapov, who along with Victoria Sinitsina won the silver medal for the Russians, said simply: “Go Kamila!”
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