China harassed its "zero-tolerance" method to doping on Tuesday because the Winter Olympics moved towards its closing levels underneath the cloud of authorized proceedings involving Russian athlete Kamila Valieva.

Yan Jiarong, the spokesperson for Beijing's organizing committee, informed the media that the nation was implementing strict doping insurance policies. In the meantime, the Chinese language Olympic crew impressed house crowds and observers abroad because it completed what has already been China's best-ever Winter Video games.

"We at all times advocate wholesome sports activities and still have been sticking to the precept of strictly implementing the anti-doping guidelines. Now we have a zero-tolerance coverage towards doping," Yan stated by way of an interpreter. Almost two dozen doping stations are working on the video games, in addition to further testing facilities to stop "foodborne doping," she stated.

Requested concerning the Chinese language Olympic Committee's stance on doping, given developments surrounding Valieva, Yan stated: "Staff China will play clear and we win clear medals, and this may certain be a clear Olympics for the Chinese language crew."

The every day press convention overran by 20 minutes because of the intensive questions concerning the ROC determine skater, who was cleared to compete within the Chinese language capital on Tuesday, regardless of having examined optimistic for the banned coronary heart treatment trimetazidine in a pattern taken on December 25. The 15-year-old testified by way of a video hyperlink within the listening to by the Court docket of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which started on Sunday and bumped into Monday.

In keeping with IOC member Denis Oswald, a veteran sports activities lawyer who investigated Russia's state-sponsored doping on the 2014 Sochi Video games, Valieva's attorneys gave a protection that included a declare of unintended contamination with coronary heart treatment taken by the athlete's grandfather.

A panel thought-about Valieva's younger age in addition to potential "irreparable hurt" to her profession in its choice to not suspended her, a CAS assertion stated. However the investigation is ongoing and can contain adults in her entourage.

American and Japanese athletes who had gained silver and bronze in final week's determine skating crew occasion weren't given a medal ceremony. The identical will occur this week if Valieva locations within the high three. She and teammates Alexandra Trusova and Anna Shcherbakova are favorites in Thursday's free skating medal occasion, during which Russia may make Winter Olympics historical past by engaging in the primary sweep of the rostrum by anyone nation.

Getting the Medal Ceremony Proper

At Tuesday's press convention, Oswald stated the IOC sympathized with the groups that positioned second and third. "However it's essential to perceive that it might be very troublesome to allocate medals primarily based on a state of affairs which isn't last, as a result of there's a honest probability that you wouldn't give the appropriate medal to the appropriate crew."

"It is why we determined it is wiser, till we do not have readability on the case, to not attribute medals," he stated. "The choice was troublesome to make as a result of we absolutely perceive that it is troublesome for the athletes to not have their ceremony, however there will likely be methods to revive the state of affairs at a later stage." If confirmed as having violated doping guidelines, Valieva's medal may be withdrawn later, he stated.

Oswald concluded: "The injury for them isn't irreparable, even when we absolutely perceive that it isn't precisely the identical should you get your medal on the video games or afterward. However the IOC determined to make each effort to have a really particular ceremony for these groups after we know what sort of medals they'll get."

Russian athletes competed on the postponed 2020 Tokyo Olympics and the continuing Beijing Video games underneath the banner of the ROC, following a two-year ban launched by the World Anti-Doping Company.

China's first Winter Olympics on house turf even have been its most profitable. With 5 days of the competitors left to go, its athletes have already got six gold, 4 silver and two bronze medals. The nation's first Winter Video games had been in Lake Placid in 1980.

China Stresses Anti-Doping Stance Amid Valieva Scandal
Kamila Valieva of Russia attends a coaching session on day 10 of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics on the Capital Indoor Stadium apply rink on February 14, 2022, in Beijing, China. On the identical day, a panel of the Court docket of Arbitration for Sport cleared Valieva to compete in remaining determine skating occasions regardless of an ongoing investigation into alleged doping.Matthew Stockman/Getty Photos