Russia (bbabo.net), - Remembering last Monday. Figure skater Kamila Valieva sits surrounded by partners in the Russian national team and coaches and is waiting for the final skate in the team tournament. We have already ahead of schedule and deservedly won these competitions at the Olympics in Beijing. Camila put a beautiful point, and everyone is posing for the camera, repeating her final and winning pose from the free program "Bolero". But the next photo - with medals - is still missing. The awards ceremony was postponed indefinitely, and there is no certainty on Valieva's participation in the individual tournament. What is happening - no longer on the ice, but outside the rink?

On Friday - after days of rumors and speculation - the International Doping Testing Agency (ITA) reported that Kamila Valieva tested positive on December 25, 2021 during the Russian Nationals in St. Petersburg. The Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) imposed a temporary suspension on the skater on February 8, which she successfully challenged the next day and returned to training. Then appeals to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) were filed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the International Skating Union (ISU). Hearings of the CAS field panel on Valieva's case began yesterday, and the decision will be communicated to the parties concerned today - on the eve of the start of the women's short program (February 15 at 13.00 Moscow time). In addition, the draw has already taken place in Beijing, and Valieva received the 26th starting number. And even then, the athlete did not know if she could perform. What will it cost her to wait? But this is not the only question.

Why did the WADA-accredited laboratory in Stockholm take so long to analyze the sample and, as if on purpose, publish the result right after the victory of the Russian team at the Olympics? Christmas and New Year holidays, coronavirus among employees do not pull on the real reason. After all, Valieva's test from the European Championship at the end of January - naturally, negative - was ready earlier.

The International Doping Testing Agency in its statement emphasized in every possible way that Valieva, as a minor, belongs to "protected persons". Her name and the essence of her case were not required to be disclosed in order to avoid publicity and pressure. It was necessary to issue an official release, as foreign media have already published unverified information with reference to their sources. Then how did the melon leak happen? IOC Communications Director Mark Adams called the rumors speculation and asked journalists to show respect to each other and to the young athlete. Although the position of the IOC in this matterms of protecting the interests of Valieva from the attacks of the Western press looks passive. But they filed an appeal to cancel the temporary suspension promptly.

All samples taken by Kamila Valieva at the European Championships and at the Olympics were negative

In this situation, Camila was supported by all our athletes and, of course, officials.

Direct speech

Oleg Matytsin, Minister of Sports of the Russian Federation:

- The most important aspect of our anti-doping policy is the protection of the rights of clean athletes, the observance of the principle of the presumption of innocence and the athlete's right to an objective trial. We will continue to provide all the necessary support to our athlete. We ask everyone to show respect for the young skater and refrain from premature comments.

Stanislav Pozdnyakov, Head of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC), four-time Olympic champion:

- I don’t remember in my practice - both as an athlete and as a leader - a single case where the result was processed for so long. According to international standards for WADA laboratories, the time limit for loading an A sample is 20 days from the sample is received by the laboratory. It is very likely that someone held this sample until the end of the team competition of skaters.

Alexander Gorshkov, President of the Russian Figure Skating Federation (FFKKR), Olympic champion:

- We do not doubt the honesty of our athlete. This case requires careful consideration, because this whole wild story raises too many questions. It is necessary to find out, on the one hand, all the circumstances of what happened, and on the other hand, what happened to the doping sample taken on December 25 for almost a month and a half after it was sent to a foreign laboratory.

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