The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has taken aim at Russian Olympic officials after 15-year-old skater Kamila Valieva was cleared to compete in Tuesday's individual event in Beijing.
Valieva captured the hearts of fans around the world last week when she became just the fourth woman in Olympic history to land a triple axel at the Games, helping her country comfortably beat the USA to team gold.
However, the medal ceremony was subsequently delayed when it emerged the young star had tested positive for trimetazidine, a metabolic agent prescribed for the treatment of angina and vertigo.
The substance is banned for athletes, as it can also enhance physical efficiency.
The Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) opted to lift the provisional suspension on her though, freeing her up to also go for individual glory, and despite WADA appealing that decision the Court of Arbitration for Sport panel (CAS) ruled on Monday that Valieva is free to compete.
Citing exceptional circumstances, CAS in part justified the decision by questioning why the positive test had only come to light after Russin had won team gold, when the positive result was actually produced on December 25, before the sample was sent to a lab in Stockholm to be further analysed.
Responding to the decision, WADA has laid the blame for the delay firmly at the feet of Russian authorities.
“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,” read a statement.
“Concerning the analysis of the athlete’s sample, WADA always expects Anti-Doping Organisations to liaise with the laboratories in order to ensure they expedite the analysis of samples so that the results are received prior to athletes travelling to or competing in a major event."
WADA also implied that RUSADA had failed to properly communicate the failed test.
“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.”
Valieva however, could yet be stripped of her team gold, and any medal she wins in the individual event.
Pick up tomorrow's Daily Mirror and get a FREE £2 Shop Bet with William Hill which can be used on any of the sport action!
18 + Terms apply. See tomorrow's paper for your voucher.
