CAS clears Russian skater Kamila Valieva to continue at Winter Olympics despite failing doping test

by Guy Jackson

Beijing - Russian teenage figure skating sensation Kamila Valieva was on Monday cleared by the Court of Arbitration for Sport to continue competing in the Beijing Olympics despite failing a doping test.

CAS said it had rejected appeals by the International Olympic Committee, the World Anti-Doping Agency and the International Skating Union to have the suspension of the 15-year-old reinstated.

The prodigious Valieva is now able to take part in the singles event that begins on Tuesday, just a day after the top sports court released its decision.

She will be favourite to win that competition.

CAS cited "exceptional circumstances" for its decision, including her status as a "protected person" - in other words, a minor.

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Matthieu Reeb, CAS director general, said in a news conference that a suspension would have caused "serious damage".

Valieva tested positive during the Russian championships on December 25 for the banned substance trimetazidine.

It is used to treat angina and vertigo but is on WADA's prohibited list because it can increase blood flow efficiency and help endurance.

But it took six weeks for the result of the test to be processed by a WADA-accredited laboratory in Stockholm.

The Russian anti-doping agency (RUSADA) was notified of the positive test result on February 8 and suspended Valieva, but she successfully appealed and the ban was lifted.

The day before, she had helped Russia win team gold, producing a dazzling performance as she became the first woman to land a quadruple jump in Olympic competition.

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The medals ceremony for