Members of the U.S. Olympic figure skating team learned late Monday that they would win gold after Russian skater Kamila Valieva was disqualified from the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics for doping.
The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee was informed that the IOC would award the gold medal to the United States in the team event, but the Games were thrown into disarray when Valieva tested positive six weeks before the Games.
The Associated Press obtained a copy of an email sent by the IOC to the USOPC, which said: “We are now in a position to award medals according to the rankings to be determined by the International Skating Union.” Organize events at the Olympics.
The USOPC confirmed that CEO Sarah Hirshland had received word that the US side had been declared the winner.
“We deeply sympathize with the athletes who have had to wait two years to learn the final results of their competitions,” the IOC said in a statement. The IOC will liaise with the respective (National Olympic Committees) to organize a dignified Olympic medal ceremony. ”
It is still unclear how Valieva’s disqualification will affect the silver and bronze medals. Japan finished in 3rd place and is likely to move up to 2nd place. Depending on how the scoring rules are interpreted, Russia could still finish third ahead of Canada, even after Valieva deducts her scores from the two events she skated during the team event.
The Americans who will win gold medals are Evan Bates, Karen Chen, Nathan Chen, Madison Chock, Zachary Donahue, Brandon Frazier, Madison Hubbell, Alexa Knirim and Vincent Zhou.
It’s been a long two years for everyone involved. Last summer, the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Museum marked the 500-day anniversary of the Olympics by displaying empty boxes received by skaters that were supposed to contain medals that were not distributed in Beijing.
Over the weekend, Chock and Bates won their fifth national title and were asked about their pending decisions.
“I think two years is too long to make this decision, and we may never know why it took so long,” Bates said. “We look forward to getting some closure after a long period of waiting.”
It has not been announced at this time where the medal ceremony will be held. The USOPC said it is beginning the process of finding an appropriate time and place to award the gold medal to the skater. The World Skating Championships will be held in Montreal in March.
Valieva ends up empty-handed. On the same day, the Court of Arbitration for Sport made a decision to suspend him for four years from December 25, 2021, the day he tested positive. As a result of this sanction, Valieva’s results from that date will be invalidated. It is scheduled to end about two months before the next Italian Winter Games.
Russian authorities criticized the ruling.
“Of course, we do not agree with this. From my point of view, of course, it is politicized,” said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
The IOC decided not to hold a medal ceremony in Beijing just hours before Valieva, then 15, tested positive for a banned heart drug.
Although her sample was taken six weeks before the Russian Championships, the case caused legal confusion because the positive test was not reported until February 7, 2022.
Multiple appeals and hearings followed, continuing for almost two years after the Olympics. Russia’s sports court acquitted Valieva because she was a minor. CAS supported an appeal led by the World Anti-Doping Agency asking the court to disqualify Valieva from the Olympics and suspend her.
The judges ruled that Valieva, who was a minor at the time of her positive test, could not receive lenient punishment under Russia’s anti-doping regulations.
The court stated, “Under the rules, there is no basis for treating him differently than adult athletes,” and did not make a detailed decision public until the confidentiality issue was reconsidered.
After Russia invaded Ukraine, the International Skating Union banned Russians from participating in international competitions. Valieva, who turns 18 in April, has been skating on Russia’s expanded national circuit, television events and ice shows. However, she lost twice to young Russians in the training group led by coach Eteri Tutberidze.
