Kamila Valieva anti-doping rule violation: Timeline

[rabidline]

JSF has officially issued their statement on the Olympic medals allocation, with official comments from the Japanese skaters.
https://www.skatingjapan.or.jp/whatsnew/detail.php?id=229

Considering the Japanese skaters have been very quiet throughout this whole case, very happy that they finally reached the conclusion and get the medals they have earned. Congratulations for the first ever team event figure skating medal for Japan! Looking forward to see them with their coaches, friends and family in Paris.

Kaori Sakamoto:

“Frankly, I am very happy. At the same time, I felt that it had been a long time until this day came. I believe that I won the silver medal in the team competition thanks to my teammates who competed with me, and also thanks to everyone involved. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you. And through this experience, I was reminded once again of the importance of fairness and integrity in sports. I will continue to do my best and devote myself to the competition with the utmost sportsmanship so that fair and clean games will continue in the future.”

Wakaba Higuchi:

“I am honestly happy to finally receive a medal! I can't wait to show it to all the people who have helped and supported me so far.”

Yuma Kagiyama:

“I am happy to receive a medal for the team competition at the Beijing Olympics. The medals we all won together will be a good memory for me.”

Shoma Uno:

“I am very happy to receive this Olympic team medal. I am very proud that all Japanese Figure Skaters were able to achieve such a wonderful result, and I am very grateful to have such a wonderful opportunity to attend the medal awarding ceremony.”

Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara:

“We would like to thank everyone on the team, everyone who has supported us and shared our joy. And we will continue to face our competitive activities with sincerity and devote ourselves to the next goal of ours.”

Misato Komatsubara:

“I have been waiting for this. I am sincerely happy. I would like to give a real hug, different from the one with COVID-19, to my esteemed friends who worked hard together, and tell them directly my congratulations. I would like to spend precious moments so that I can bring smiles and cheer to everyone who has supported me and helped me.”

Takeru Komatsubara (aka Tim Koleto):

“I am really happy. I am filled with a sense of wanting to convey my congratulations and thanks to my friends who worked so hard together for Japan. And during COVID-19, my family and the people who supported me were not able to go to Beijing to watch the games. This time at the Paris Olympics, I want to celebrate with everyone.”

 

[yuumagical]

Honestly, I thought Misato's statement could be translated better, so here's my version of it (though I did consult with a friend a little bit):

"I was impatiently waiting for this moment. I'm so happy from the bottom of my heart. Unlike during the coronavirus pandemic, I want to give the teammates we respected and worked hard with together a real hug and congratulate them in person. At this precious moment, I'd like to be able to send some good energy with a smile to the people who cheered for us and supported us."

I'd like to translate more of the statements, but the opening ceremony for the Summer Olympics is coming up soon...

 

[Amei]

Well, they made the decision in time for a Paris ceremony, good for them,

But I am disappointed that they could not make a decision quickly enough on Canada's appeal. I would have liked to seen a full podium: USA, Japan and Canada.

I'm doubtful the bronze goes to Canada or at least only Canada. The ISU could have done it months ago when they reallocated the medals but they didn't and came out with a vague explanation.

It wouldn't surprise me if they and/or the IOC have quietly asked CAS to not announce a decision on Canada's appeal until after this award ceremony happens rather than have to deal with an awkward situation of do you invite the ROC team (less Valieva) or not. As long as the decision is not out they don't have to deal with that and bronze can be handled quietly after the Olympics

 

[4everchan]

I'm doubtful the bronze goes to Canada or at least only Canada. The ISU could have done it months ago when they reallocated the medals but they didn't and came out with a vague explanation.

It wouldn't surprise me if they and/or the IOC have quietly asked CAS to not announce a decision on Canada's appeal until after this award ceremony happens rather than have to deal with an awkward situation of do you invite the ROC team (less Valieva) or not. As long as the decision is not out they don't have to deal with that and bronze can be handled quietly after the Olympics

Maybe I am naïve, but CAS wouldn't take such an order to respond slowly from the IOC. The CAS is there to serve the athletes against the governing bodies, not the opposite. I see your point, and mine is relatively similar in the sense that the ISU doesn't want the third place team on the podium at the game... but I doubt there is a conspiracy to delay the results of the appeals. In any case, even if ROC keeps their bronze, most of these athletes wouldn't be invited to Paris because of their affiliation with their government.

 

[hope_skate]

I'm doubtful the bronze goes to Canada or at least only Canada. The ISU could have done it months ago when they reallocated the medals but they didn't and came out with a vague explanation.

It wouldn't surprise me if they and/or the IOC have quietly asked CAS to not announce a decision on Canada's appeal until after this award ceremony happens rather than have to deal with an awkward situation of do you invite the ROC team (less Valieva) or not. As long as the decision is not out they don't have to deal with that and bronze can be handled quietly after the Olympics

Same here. I get this uneasy feeling that they publicly announce that the ROC appeal was rejected to appease the public just in time before they drop the bombshell that the bronze either will go to ROC or be shared between ROC-Canada. They had all this time to make a clear decision but conveniently decided not to announce anything after the 22nd.

 

[FlossieH]

Given the circumstances, a shared bronze might be the fairest option. There are no clear rules for whether the points should just have been removed or should have been reallocated, and that is what it all hinges on. There is no evidence of the other Russian skaters having been at fault, so they should be entitled to the medal in the absence of a rule about points redistribution. However, in athletics the whole team gets disqualified which, if applied to skating, would mean nothing for Russia and Bronze for Canada. That seems harsh when it is not covered by the rules for the figure skating team event. In the absence of the rules needed to make the decision, I think they should award two bronzes this time and sort the rules out before next time.

 

[jorge2912]

It would be fair a shared bronze medal thinking that are 2 years from the past winter Olympics games and there isn't ways to untie by technical elements scores , well will have a happy end that problem and is was good that CAS dismissed Russian appeal because from beginning was wrong the appeal of them and the justification about Valieva's doping to WADA committee in 2022 ,is like naive think that federation or a sportsperson don't know about WADA procedures neither that if take a prescription for therapeutical purposes that one of more components are on the forbidden elements list on WADA must ask for a medical permission with a month or more before a championships

 

[reneerose]

When is the makeup award ceremony going to be held? I didn't want to scroll through multiple pages to look for that.

 

[rabidline]

When is the makeup award ceremony going to be held? I didn't want to scroll through multiple pages to look for that.

Right at your call, we have IOC confirming the ceremony on August 7 at 5 PM at Champions Park:



Champions Park look like this, they will open for public today:



So excited for US and Japan team!!!!

 

[rabidline]

Japan Olympic Committee (JOC) has confirmed that all team event figure skaters will attend the medal ceremony except Shoma Uno, who has a schedule conflict (he will skate at an ice show the very next day in Champery, Switzerland):



Kaori Sakamoto, Wakaba Higuchi, Yuma Kagiyama, Riku MIura and Ryuichi Kihara, Misato Komatsubara and Takeru Komatsubara (Tim Koleto) will be in Paris to receive their Olympic silver medals.

 

[saine]

Canadian appeal dismissed.

https://www.tas-cas.org/fileadmin/user_upload/CAS_Media_Release_ISU_Op_Part__10354_.pdf

 

[4everchan]

Canadian appeal dismissed.

https://www.tas-cas.org/fileadmin/user_upload/CAS_Media_Release_ISU_Op_Part__10354_.pdf

CAS has not been kind to Canadian athletes lately. This is the most infuriating moment of figure skating for me in the last decade. But no surprise here... and of course, the ISU will be pleased with that as they already had planned their medal ceremony, without the uninvited and without the Canadians as they didn't want to lose face on not being able to do basic maths. I don't care about the rules being badly written not allowing for reallocating points. That's what is done all the time. It's common, accepted and logical practice. The only way I will watch the team event next Olympics is if the rules are rewritten. I am going to have a great work out this morning to let go of my anger.

 

[Skating91]

I haven't read it, on here I had no doubt that ROC would retain bronze, the distribution of the points was mathematically correct, logical. Poor form, poor sportsmanship from Canada to appeal this.

They cannot say hand on heart they deserved bronze.

ROC chose their team in good faith. I think the correct decision was to at worst strip Valieva of gold but give the rest of the team gold (since Valieva did not test positive at the event it was WADA's fault that she competed).

 

[saine]

I haven't read it, on here I had no doubt that ROC would retain bronze, the distribution of the points was mathematically correct, logical. Poor form, poor sportsmanship from Canada to appeal this.

They cannot say hand on heart they deserved bronze.

ROC chose their team in good faith. I think the correct decision was to at worst strip Valieva of gold but give the rest of the team gold (since Valieva did not test positive at the event it was WADA's fault that she competed).

It is not poor sportsmanship to appeal decisions. Everyone has the right to do that.

It would be poor sportsmanship to not appeal and then complain about the decision. Russia had the right to appeal for gold and Canada had the right to appeal for bronze. They took it, even if the appeals were dismissed.

 

[el henry]

Heart to hand and hand to God, I say Canada deserved the bronze.

My only consolation is that the Russians won't show up for the ceremony. If there is any award in absentia, I truly hope the American team has a response prepared (the Czechoslovakian gymnast in 1968 comes to mind)

 

[MsLayback]

I think the mistake Canada made was not being verbal from the beginning. The United States never let up they took the lead and they were very persistent in pursuing getting that gold medal. the Japanese were vocal as well they stood in unison with USA supportive of the effort they agreed but boy did the USA drive the conversation.
The Canadians weren't talking about it...that Im aware of they didn't file appeal early on and they weren't verbal. I think it seems and no shade or nastiness that Skate Canada sat back and thought okay United States you take the lead we will wait for Russia get disqualified and we'll get this bronze medal in a manner similar to track and field relays and gymnastics (not the best strategy since the team event is relatively new) can't come in at the very end and fight for something and I think that's where Canada made their mistake they should have been fighting for the bronze since day one like the USA and Japan.

 

[4everchan]

I think the mistake Canada made was not being verbal from the beginning. The United States never let up they took the lead and they were very persistent in pursuing getting that gold medal. the Japanese were vocal as well they stood in unison with USA supportive of the effort they agreed but boy did the USA drive the conversation.
The Canadians weren't talking about it...that Im aware of they didn't file appeal early on and they weren't verbal. I think it seems and no shade or nastiness that Skate Canada sat back and thought okay United States you take the lead we will wait for Russia get disqualified and we'll get this bronze medal in a manner similar to track and field relays and gymnastics (not the best strategy since the team event is relatively new) can't come in at the very end and fight for something and I think that's where Canada made their mistake they should have been fighting for the bronze since day one like the USA and Japan.

They did file early enough and were verbal about it. There are many ways to protest.

 

[Ic3Rabbit]

How infuriating. But I commend Canada for the fight and also staying classy as always after the decision. I will always know that Canada are the real bronze medalists.

 

[lariko]

Given that Canada can compete in 2026, and Russia can't, and the the precedent of a ban for waging a war during Olympic truth not being followed through by the IOC, I support this resolution.

 

[4everchan]

Given that Canada can compete in 2026, and Russia can't, and the the precedent of a ban for waging a war during Olympic truth not being followed through by the IOC, I support this resolution.

Can Vanessa James just to name one, can compete in 2026? I doubt the appeal was ever about one more medal for Canada..but for the athletes themselves.