Kamila Valieva: Anti-doping Case and Follow-ups

[Tomadeur]

WADA statement following CAS decision not to reinstate skater’s provisional suspension​

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) acknowledges the ruling announced today by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to confirm the lifting of the provisional suspension of Russian Olympic Committee figure skater Kamila Valieva.
WADA’s appeal to CAS in this case, which was filed alongside appeals by the International Olympic Committee and the International Skating Union, was based on WADA’s position that the decision by the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) Disciplinary Committee to lift the mandatory provisional suspension on the athlete was not in line with the terms of the World Anti-Doping Code (Code). WADA is therefore disappointed by today’s ruling of the CAS Ad Hoc Division. While WADA has not received the reasoned award, it appears that the CAS panel decided not to apply the terms of the Code, which does not allow for specific exceptions to be made in relation to mandatory provisional suspensions for 'protected persons', including minors.
Concerning the analysis of the athlete's sample, WADA always expects Anti-Doping Organizations to liaise with the laboratories in order to ensure they expedite the analysis of samples so that the results are received prior to athletes traveling to or competing in a major event, such as the Olympic or Paralympic Games and, where applicable, conduct results management of the cases related to such athletes.
According to information received by WADA, the sample in this case was not flagged by RUSADA as being a priority sample when it was received by the anti-doping laboratory in Stockholm, Sweden. This meant the laboratory did not know to fast-track the analysis of this sample.
As previously announced, under the terms of the Code, when a minor is involved in an anti-doping case, there is a requirement to investigate that athlete’s support personnel. RUSADA has already indicated it has begun that process. In addition, WADA’s independent Intelligence and Investigations Department will look into it.

I hoped that they would also issue the delayed transport as according to RUSADA the samples were given to a WADA-Official on Dec 25th. If that would be correct there would have been no need to flag the sample to retrieve the result back way before olympics.

At the same time I haven't heard anything on why the RUSADA/ROC didn't inquired why they didn't get the results back.

The informations are a complete mess.

 

[Mista Ekko]

WADA statement following CAS decision not to reinstate skater’s provisional suspension​

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) acknowledges the ruling announced today by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to confirm the lifting of the provisional suspension of Russian Olympic Committee figure skater Kamila Valieva.
WADA’s appeal to CAS in this case, which was filed alongside appeals by the International Olympic Committee and the International Skating Union, was based on WADA’s position that the decision by the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) Disciplinary Committee to lift the mandatory provisional suspension on the athlete was not in line with the terms of the World Anti-Doping Code (Code). WADA is therefore disappointed by today’s ruling of the CAS Ad Hoc Division. While WADA has not received the reasoned award, it appears that the CAS panel decided not to apply the terms of the Code, which does not allow for specific exceptions to be made in relation to mandatory provisional suspensions for 'protected persons', including minors.
Concerning the analysis of the athlete's sample, WADA always expects Anti-Doping Organizations to liaise with the laboratories in order to ensure they expedite the analysis of samples so that the results are received prior to athletes traveling to or competing in a major event, such as the Olympic or Paralympic Games and, where applicable, conduct results management of the cases related to such athletes.
According to information received by WADA, the sample in this case was not flagged by RUSADA as being a priority sample when it was received by the anti-doping laboratory in Stockholm, Sweden. This meant the laboratory did not know to fast-track the analysis of this sample.
As previously announced, under the terms of the Code, when a minor is involved in an anti-doping case, there is a requirement to investigate that athlete’s support personnel. RUSADA has already indicated it has begun that process. In addition, WADA’s independent Intelligence and Investigations Department will look into it.

WADA ending this with saying they'll also "look into it" sounds so anti climactic

 

[Tomadeur]

Are you serious? Every single fed/expert/public figure on every single Russian TV channel says that 24/7.

Like all other experts said so too. It's a rather new information that the lab retrieved the sample on Jan 19th. So now the questions shifted from why it took the lab so long to who can it happen that a sample arrives with so much delay at the lab.

 

[Mista Ekko]

I am sure this will be part of the investigation. Some people, of course, are fast enough to put the blame on Rusada to intentionally delay the things. And these people don't care that there could be no logic behind that outside the belief that the Russians are both "evil and stupid".

Yes, of course, the little info that was given kinda begs questioning what was going on with them.
If they would just shed a little more light on their process we could all move on.

 

[[email protected]]

Are you serious? Every single fed/expert/public figure on every single Russian TV channel claims that 24/7.

I don't watch Russian TV 24/7. I read Pozdnyakov who said clearly that the question is not to the lab but to those whom it took 25 days to deliver the sample to the lab. I don't know what are lab's obligation for priority samples. PCR tests in Russia is either 3 days regular or 1 day priority. So if it were priority sample lab could have had not 20 but 2 days. Then the question would be why it took 43 days to reach the lab?

But even without putting priority on the sample we revert to the question why it took 25 days to move the sample? And sorry, your idea that Russia knew that it was negative and deliberately delayed it contradicts very basic logic. As I explained and I am surprised that I had to explain this Russia would have wanted to know as fast as possible to replace Kamila before the games rather than to have a big time scandal after big time celebrations. Isn't it obvious?

 

[Wafflecakes]

I am sure this will be part of the investigation. Some people, of course, are fast enough to put the blame on Rusada to intentionally delay the things. And these people don't care that there could be no logic behind that outside the belief that the Russians are both "evil and stupid".

The this is laughable considering how quickly Russia and their media were to claim that the delay was proof that the sample was tampered with in some way. When the longer this goes the more it looks like that is Russia's fault as well.

 

[Mista Ekko]

But even without putting priority on the sample we revert to the question why it took 25 days to move the sample? And sorry, your idea that Russia knew that it was negative and deliberately delayed it contradicts very basic logic. As I explained and I am surprised that I had to explain this Russia would have wanted to know as fast as possible to replace Kamila before the games rather than to have a big time scandal after big time celebrations. Isn't it obvious?

That's why it is strange that RUSADA did not specify yet who was given the sample, as that information
will revert any suspicion from them and put it on whichever organisation that person is from.

 

[[email protected]]

Most likely Rusfed internal laboratory analyzed Kamila's urine the same day, discovered trimetazidine, hence didn't prioritize official sample hoping Swedes won't make it before Olympics. Unfortunately for them, Swedes did make it.

I have a "better theory": Rusfed internal laboratory analyzed Kamila's urine the same day, discovered trimetazidine, hence didn't prioritize official sample hoping to bribe lab assistants out of doing the proper test. But something went wrong.

I know that some people have lack of sense of humor. So, it was sarcasm.

 

[RatedPG]

Also, last comment from me as I need to go to sleep to function at work tomorrow. But, after taking the stance of supporting the lab, there is also a bit of a reason to doubt them, as well. This puts me back to 50/50, so I’m going to have another restless night again.

What a coincidence that the sample was received on the 19th and they fulfilled their obligation exactly on the 20th day? If samples were actually received on the 18th and post dated, one day is the difference between meeting the 20 day obligation or not. Also, with them using Covid as an excuse for why they took so long due to staff shortage, I don’t think it is unreasonable to doubt if the samples were received on the 19 or not. I guess I now fully understand the Russians comment in regards to did someone walk to lab from RUS to SWE? It only hit me now that it took 25 days for the sample to arrive to the lab and if it didn’t go out by boat, I do find it suspicious that it took so long to get to the lab. Therefore, It is within the realm of possibility that a lab could alter the dates when finding out they were outside the 20 day window in order to have their results accepted as valid. But, there is a case of reasonable doubt, as I’m now back to questioning the lab as 50/50 again. I’m back to feeling dizzy about this whole situation

 

[Mista Ekko]

I hoped that they would also issue the delayed transport as according to RUSADA the samples were given to a WADA-Official on Dec 25th. If that would be correct there would have been no need to flag the sample to retrieve the result back way before olympics.

So RUSADA gave the sample to WADA?
good, now I can go back to work

 

[Tomadeur]

So RUSADA gave the sample to WADA?
good, now I can go back to work

That's what I read in a statement from RUSADA. But we know informations can be changing fast.

But that's why I hoped WADA would adress this topic in their statement.

 

[norwegianfairytale]

To what extent would shifting the problem from major senior competitions to junior competitions improve the situation for junior athletes?

Well it would for sure help those athletes competing in senior to know that athletes won´t get away with anything like this because of age. You won´t have such scandals like this at Olympic. The adults involve won´t have the same motive to drug athlete. Olympic medal is more important than Junior Worlds and so on.

 

[brakes]

I don't watch Russian TV 24/7.

Watch more.

 

[Mista Ekko]

But that's why I hoped WADA would adress this topic in their statement.

Yes that is the hottest question of the hour.

Maybe they will also "look into it"

 

[[email protected]]

So RUSADA gave the sample to WADA?
good, now I can go back to work

Well, if it the case then the question is to WADA - why it took that long? Ok, I am checking out as well before there is no new info. And good luck to Kamila tomorrow. I would not go for 3A if I were her. But I am not her.

 

[flanker]

It's a sunny day outside, so peaceful.

Beethoven's 6th sounds in my ears, do the same if you desire some serenity.

 

[eaglehelang]

To what extent would shifting the problem from major senior competitions to junior competitions improve the situation for junior athletes?

Cos raising the age minimum would mean a 15 year old cannot participate in Olympics figure skating or senior World Championship.
Cannot participate, eliminate the problem of having different rules for minors or 'protected person'.

Improve situation for Juniors? Perhaps then the coaches would not push young teens so early so hard with high difficulty jumps/elements so the youngsters can have longer competitive career(less injuries, etc).

 

[Fanof]

14 February 2022 Lausanne / Switzerland

Following the hearing of the Ad hoc Division of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in the arbitration procedures relating to Figure Skater Kamila Valieva (ROC), the International Skating Union (ISU) duly noted and will respect the ruling namely that the provisional suspension of Ms. Valieva remains lifted.
The ISU awaits to receive the award with grounds and needs time to assess before making any further comments.

 

[Azikin]

Canadian Olympic Committee

COC 'extremely disappointed'​

The Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) and Skate Canada issued a statement Monday in response to the ruling.

"The COC is fully committed to clean sport and we firmly believe that no one involved in doping or other corrupt practices has a place in the Olympic Movement," read the statement.

"While we trust that the CAS decision was the result of a fair process, we are extremely disappointed with this result."

Yes, it's very disappointing they didn't crush a 15-year old girl dream before the investigation is finished.

 

[Wafflecakes]

Yes, it's very disappointing they didn't crush a 15-year old girl dream before the investigation is finished.

Its almost like there is more at stake here than that.

When the dream of a 15 year old is more important than the health and safety of a 15 year old it will be a sad day.

I guess it is a sad day.