Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva allowed to compete in Winter Olympics after CAS ruling

Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva can compete in the Winter Olympics women’s event after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) upheld the lifting of a provisional suspension in connection with a positive doping test.

The urgent CAS decision permits the 15-year-old to enter the singles event at the Beijing Games starting on Tuesday.

The decision mas made despite appeals from the International Olympic Committee, the World Anti-Doping Agency and the governing skating body (ISU).

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A Disciplinary Anti-Doping Committee of the Russian anti-doping body lifted a suspension imposed on Valieva last week after she tested positive for the prohibited heart medicine trimetazidine in a sample taken on December 25.

The test result arrived after Valieva had led the Russian Olympic Committee to first place in last Monday’s team event.

But the medal ceremony has been suspended and a final decision is only to come once the full case has been dealt with, which could be after the Games close on February 20.

CAS held an online hearing on Sunday night at a Beijing hotel that lasted five-and-a-half hours and ended early on Monday morning (local time).

The doping result was from a sample taken in December but its result was not transmitted until February 7, RUSADA said.

The agency’s ban on Valieva came a day later, after she and the Russian Olympic Committee had won gold in the team event.

Medals have not yet been awarded for the event amid the legal proceedings.

Earlier on Sunday, the teenager, a favourite for Games gold in the women’s figure skating, continued to practise amid a sea of media and camera crews as the court prepared the expedited hearing.

Ru