Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva cleared to compete at Olympics after failed drug test, USOPC 'disappointed' in ruling

BEIJING — Teenage Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva has been cleared to compete in the women's figure skating competition at the Winter Olympics despite failing a pre-Games drug test.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport released its ruling less than 12 hours after a hastily arranged hearing that lasted into early Monday morning that the 15-year-old Valieva, the favorite for the women's individual gold, does not need to be provisionally suspended ahead of a full investigation. The court gave her a favorable decision in part because she was a minor or «protected person» and was subject to different rules from an adult athlete.

«The panel considered that preventing the athlete to compete at the Olympics would cause her irreparable harm in the circumstances,» CAS Director General Matthieu Reeb said.

In a statement released shortly after the ruling was announced, the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee said it was «disappointed by the message this decision sends.»

«It is the collective responsibility of the entire Olympic community to protect the integrity of sports and to hold our athletes, coaches and all involved to the highest of standards,» USOPC CEO Sarah Hirshland said in the statement. «Athletes have the right to know they are competing on a level playing field. Unfortunately, today that right is being denied. This appears to be another chapter in the systemic and pervasive disregard for clan sports by Russia.

»We know this case is not yet closed, and we call on everyone in the Olympic Movement to continue to fight for clean sport on behalf of athletes around the world."

Now, Valieva and her fellow Russian skaters can aim for the first podium sweep of women's figure skating in Olympic history. The event