Skating: Russia’s Kamila Valieva handed four-year ban for doping, Olympic gold could go to US

In a huge blow to Russian skating, teen star Kamila Valieva has received a four-year suspension for doping. The development wasconfirmed by the Court of Arbitration for Sporton Monday (Jan 29)after the figure skater faileda doping test ahead ofthe 2022 Winter Olympics.

With this, the move has effectively stripped the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) of its gold medal in the team event from theBeijing Olympics two years back. Reports said the gold couldnow go to the US team.

"Kamila Valieva is found to have committed an anti-doping rule violation and sanctioned with a four-year period of ineligibility commencing on 25 December 2021," the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) said.

Add WION as a Preferred Source

"WADA took this appeal to CAS in the interests of fairness for athletes and clean sport and we believe that has been delivered through this decision," it further opined.

In addition, the court claimed that all competitive results achieved by the 17-year-old teenager since that date standvoided, including the gold medal she helped ROC to win in the team event during the 2022 Games.

The CAS panel said thatValieva, who was 15 at the time of the offence, was not to betreated with more leniency that an adult found to have committed theviolation.

It is to be noted that Valievatested positive for the banned substance trimetazidine -- which prohibitsangina --at the Russian national championships in Dec2021. Her team defended her by saying that she might have tested positiveto a mix-up with her grandfather's heart medication. The result of the positive doping test was out just a day after her efforts ensured ROC to clinch gold in the team event in Beijing in early 2022.

As things stand,United States willreceive gold medalin the event after Valieva’s Olympic disqualification.

The Voice of America reported that Olympic officials "have told counterparts in the United States that their figure skating team will receive Olympic gold medals" after Valieva's disqualification.

WADA reacts to Valieva's ban

After the decision, the World Anti-Doping Agency reacted to the development and said in a statement, "The doping of children is unforgivable. "WADA encourages governments to consider passing legislation -- as some have done already -- making the doping of minors a criminal offense," it added.

With the latest judgement, it has all gone downhill for Valieva who will stay away from action till 2028 -- robbing her of potentially earning more accolades.