Figure skating-US appeal to CAS to have team medals awarded - source

BEIJING :The United States figure skating team have asked the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to rule that they can receive their team silver medals before the end of the Beijing Olympics, a source close to the proceedings told Reuters on Saturday.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) had decided no medals for the competition - won by the Russian Olympic Committee team - would be presented until the doping case of Russian 15-year-old Kamila Valieva had been resolved.

That matter could take weeks or months.

Russia finished top, the U.S. second and Japan third. Canada were fourth in the event on Feb. 7.

A source close to the proceedings told Reuters that the U.S. had appealed that IOC decision and asked sport's highest court CAS to rule before the end of the Games.

Valieva tested positive for a banned heart drug after the Russian national championships on Dec. 25 but the result was not revealed until Feb. 8, the day after she helped the ROC win the team competition.

Valieva was cleared to compete in the women's single event by CAS, but stumbled to fourth place amid all the drama.

CAS did not immediately responded to requests for comment.

The IOC said: "The IOC will not comment on an ongoing procedure."

(Reporting by: Karolos Grohmann; Editing by Ken Ferris)