Russia keeps fine for figure skater who tests positive secret
The Russian anti-doping agency Rusada will keep the verdict in the Kamila Valjeva doping case secret. The underage figure skater was the center of a riot at the Beijing Winter Olympics.
“In strict accordance with the principles of international and Russian anti-doping standards, Rusada will not disclose the date of the hearing, the verdict and the details of the case,” Rusada said in a press release.
Valjeva’s name is not even mentioned in the press release. She is described as a “figure skater for the Russian Olympic team”.
Rusada considers Valjeva a “protected person under the anti-doping rules” because she was under 16 at the time of her positive doping test.
Gold with Russian team
Valjeva, then 15, won gold with the Russian team in Beijing in February. Shortly thereafter, it was revealed that she had tested positive for the banned substance trimetazidine at a previous competition in Russia.
She appealed a provisional suspension and was allowed to compete in the individual competition. She was the top favorite there but only finished fourth after three falls.
It’s still unclear what Rusada’s decision will mean for other figure skaters at the Winter Games. The IOC did not award any medals after it became clear that Valjeva had passed a positive doping test. Behind Russia, the United States took second place in the Nations Cup. Japan came third and Canada fourth.
Valjeva’s doping case has contributed to the ISU raising the minimum age for participants in the 2026 Winter Games to 17 years.
Source:NOS
I’m Maxine Reitz, a journalist and news writer at 24 Instant News. I specialize in health-related topics and have written hundreds of articles on the subject. My work has been featured in leading publications such as The New York Times, The Guardian, and Healthline. As an experienced professional in the industry, I have consistently demonstrated an ability to develop compelling stories that engage readers.
