Russia has maintained Kamila Valieva's innocence because the teenage sensation on the middle of an Olympicdoping scandal prepares to skate in Thursday's controversial medal occasion in Beijing.
"We imagine, and we now have all the time mentioned it, that she is harmless," Russian Sports activities Minister Oleg Matytsin informed state information channel Russia-24, in response to a report by Russian information company TASS. Matytsin mentioned the ROC and different officers have been giving the 15-year-old the assist she wanted "to stop feelings from affecting her efficiency" in her closing occasion of the Winter Video games.
The Kazan-born athlete helped the ROC to gold within the determine skating crew occasion on February 7, however a medal ceremony deliberate for the next day was canceled after the outcomes of a December 25 drug check returned constructive for the banned substance trimetazidine. It stays unclear why the pattern in query took so lengthy to research.
Following the revelation, Valieva efficiently appealed a provisional ban by the Russian Anti-Doping Company, a call which was upheld by the Court docket of Arbitration for Sport on Monday, simply over 24 hours earlier than she was scheduled to compete within the girls's singles competitors. She completed the Tuesday's quick program in first place, with two of her teammates, Russia's Anna Shcherbakova and Alexandra Trusova, taking second and fourth spot, respectively. Sakamoto Kaori of Japan got here third.
It was essential that Valieva's proper to take part was restored, mentioned Matytsin, who argued there was "no connection" between her performances on the video games, the place she has since handed doping exams, and the pattern collected earlier than the competitors. However the ongoing authorized scenario has taken a psychological toll on the younger Olympian, he mentioned.
"Her situation in the course of the quick program spoke of tension and emotional fatigue," Matytsin mentioned. "Nonetheless, she managed to beat that, which proves that she's one of the best." The sports activities minister mentioned it was vital to ascertain the reality about her case as quickly as attainable.
Valieva, who was topped Russian champion in December, 2021 and European champion a month later, prevented reporters within the combined zone after her quick program. ROC head Stanislav Pozdnyakov informed TASS that her situation was high quality.
If she finishes among the many prime three on Thursday, Valieva's title would carry an asterisk to indicate the provisional nature of the end result, pending the results of the continued investigation, the Worldwide Olympic Committee has mentioned. The post-event medal and flower ceremonies have already been canceled, with profitable athletes to go away Beijing with out their awards. The sturdy problem posed by Japan's Sakamoto however, Valieva and her teammates have been tipped to win all gold, silver and bronze in what could be the primary clear sweep of the determine skating podium by anybody nation in Winter Olympics historical past.
Having led the pack into the ladies's lengthy program, also called the free skate, Valieva is final on the invoice at No. 25. She is scheduled to carry out at 9:57 p.m. native time, or 8:57 a.m. Jap Time.
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