Hearings in the doping case of figure skating competitor Kamila Valeeva have been postponed to November 9 and 10, the Court of Arbitration for Sport said in a statement on Thursday, after the panel of judges requested additional documents.
According to Reuters, Valeeva’s sample was positive for the banned substance trimetazidine at the “Russian National Championships” in December 2021, but the result was not announced until February 8, 2022, a day after she helped her team win a medal. Beijing Olympics.
The International Ski Federation appealed to the Court of Sports after a Russian investigation ruled he was not guilty of any doping-related offences, despite his admission that he had failed a test to detect a substance banned in the sport.
Valeeva claimed in her defense that the positive result of the doping test was the result of mixing it with her grandfather’s heart medication.
The statement said: “After submission of evidence by the parties, the panel requested additional documents and it was decided to adjourn the hearing to a later date to allow all to peruse these documents. To consider appeals.
“The hearings will be held in Lausanne on the ninth and tenth of November 2023, after which the panel will study the case and prepare its final decision.”
The International Olympic Committee allowed Valeeva to compete in women’s singles events despite her positive test, but said team competition medals would not be distributed until her case was resolved.
The USA won the silver medal, Japan the bronze and Canada fourth, ahead of Russia.
The new postponement comes as a disappointment to the US team, which is still awaiting justice.
For her part, Tracy Marek, CEO of the US Figure Skating Federation, said in a statement: “U.S. Figure Skating is deeply disappointed by the news that the hearing has been postponed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.”
He added: “We recognize the complexities of the case and the time demands of the legal process, with nearly 600 days of waiting, without reaching a resolution, undoubtedly another painful setback for our competitors.” He continued: “We emphasize the importance of transparency in this matter. “Because it affects our athletes a lot.”
On the other hand, the disciplinary committee of the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (Rusada) concluded that Valeeva had committed a violation for which she “cannot bear any fault or negligence.”
The International Skiing Federation is seeking a ruling from the Court of Arbitration for Sport to overturn Rosada’s decision, punish Valeeva and exclude its results.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is seeking a four-year ban, as well as the exclusion of all Valeeva’s results from that date, and expressed some disappointment that the case was being postponed again.
WADA said in a statement: “Due to the confidentiality of the proceedings, WADA is not permitted to comment further on the postponement announced by the Court of Arbitration for Sport earlier today.”
He continued: “However, as it has done at all levels, it will continue to press for an early end to these practices.”
