Lausanne – The doping case of Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva has left a “very unpleasant” aftertaste at the World Anti-Doping Agency. The World Anti-Doping Agency is unhappy that the teenage athlete was the only one suspended, while her coach and entourage were not.
WADA now wants to update its anti-doping rules before the 2026 Italian Winter Olympics to give it greater investigative powers over athletes' entourages, officials said at the anti-doping agency's annual meeting on Tuesday. Stated.
WADA Director-General Olivier Nigri said: “This incident is deeply disturbing, given the choice to victimize the athlete rather than uncover who actually helped her dope.'' It's clear that it's something.”
Valieva was handed a four-year ban by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in January following an appeal by WADA. He was 15 when he tested positive for a heart drug banned at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, which was later blamed on a strawberry dessert prepared by his grandfather. She was the only person punished, even though the World Anti-Doping Code requires that those who worked with underage athletes involved in doping cases also be investigated.
The responsibility for conducting these investigations lies with the state authorities, and there is no indication that Valieva's famous coach Eteri Tutberidze and medical support staff will be held accountable in Russia.
Instead, Tutberidze was awarded one of Russia's highest honors last year, sanctioned by President Vladimir Putin.
Nigri acknowledged that “there is no evidence” directly linking the coach to Valieva's doping scandal, suggesting that “possibly physical therapists or doctors” were involved.
Still, WADA acknowledged that the adults responsible for Valieva's case felt they had escaped the anti-doping regime.
“We believe that the athlete did not ingest this substance on her own, and that it was not on her initiative,” WADA President Witold Banka told The Associated Press in an interview. “She faced the consequences.”
Banka added: “It's never good to see athletes punished and I feel like the Russians who were actually responsible for it are being acquitted.” He lamented that the current situation precludes a WADA-appointed investigation. In Russia.
Valieva and Russian sports officials have appealed against the Swiss Supreme Court's CAS ruling, which allows them to intervene on the limited basis of abuse of legal process. It usually takes at least several months for a federal court to issue a decision.
The skater's suspension is scheduled to expire in December 2025, just three weeks after the next global review of anti-doping regulations organized by WADA. The conference will be held in Busan, South Korea.
“Perhaps this (Valieva) incident shows how important it is that we have to improve the anti-doping system. We are doing it now,” Banka said. Ta.
Tutberidze is currently coaching a new generation of Russian teenage skaters who are preparing for the 2026 Olympic Games in Milan-Cortina d'Ampezzo.
Nigri was asked what the International Olympic Committee, International Skating Federation and anti-doping authorities could do to prevent a repeat of the Valieva incident in Italy.
“The ISU will need to consider its testing program in the lead-up to matches to ensure that all players are possibly continuing to train with the same coach – even if they are not. “We don't know if she had anything to do with it, even if it was tested — we'll have to make sure it's done properly,” he said.
Valieva and Russian skating officials are challenging the consequences of her disqualification from the Beijing Olympics in a new complaint to CAS. Due to the ISU's redistribution of team points, Russia dropped from gold to bronze and the Olympic title went to the United States.
The Canadian team, which placed 4th at the Beijing Games, also emphasized that they won the bronze medal at the CAS. The court has not announced when it will rule on the latest round of appeals.
Because of the Valieva incident, no team medals were awarded in Beijing.
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