US figure skaters to get Olympic gold, Team ROC demoted to bronze after Kamila Valieva’s disqualification
Team United States members show their support from the stands during the Pair Skating Free Skating on day fifteen of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games at Capital Indoor Stadium on February 19, 2022 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
LAUSANNE, January 30, 2024 - A day after the Court of Arbitration for Sport rendered its verdict on the long-running Kamila Valieva doping case and imposed on the Russian figure skater “a period of four years ineligibility” starting from December 25, 2021, the International Skating Union has established the new results of the figure skating team event at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games.
GOLD FOR TEAM USA The United States Figure Skating team, which finished second behind the Russian Olympic Committee Team, will receive the gold medal, while Japan have been upgraded to silver and Team ROC demoted to bronze.
Valieva, then 15, was the star of the show as Team ROC took first place in Beijing, landing the first ever quadruple jump by a woman in Olympic competition during the free skate portion of the team event. But the following day February 8, her doping sample - collected on December 25, 2021 - returned positive for trimetazidine, a heart medication that enhances performance. No medals had been awarded due to the doping scandal.
The ban imposed Valieva is backdated to the day the positive sample was collected.
ISU STATEMENT The ISU said in a statement: “As a result and according to art. 10.10 ISU Anti-Doping Rules and 12.10 of the RUS Anti-Doping Rules, Ms. Valieva will be disqualified from all competitions which took place during the period of ineligibility, this includes the ISU European Figure Skating Championships 2022. She will also be disqualified from the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games Women’s single competition and all her individual results and points in the Short Program and the Free Skating competitions will be dismissed leading to a re-ranking of the Team event results.”
SKATE CANADA DISAGREES After the recalculation, the ROC, which previously had 74 points, they lost 20 points. With 54 points they still managed to secure a podium place , while Canada remained in fourth place with 53 points. Canada’s skating federation (Skate Canada) is however “extremely disappointed”with the with the ISU’s position and “will consider all options to appeal this decision”.
DIGNIFIED MEDAL CEREMONY The IOC statement on Monday night said in a statement: “The IOC welcomes the fact that the CAS ruling provides clarity in this case, and the athletes from the team figure skating competition at the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 can finally get their medals, for which they have been waiting so long.” The Olympic body added that it is now in a position to award the medals in accordance with the ranking established by the ISU and it will contact the respective (National Olympic Committees) in order to organise “a dignified Olympic medal ceremony.” No date or location has been provided.
Valieva was disqualified from her fourth-place ranking in the women’s singles event as well as her first-place ranking in the women’s singles event at the ISU European Figure Skating Championships 2022. In the continental competition, her compatriots Anna Shcherbakova and Alexandra Trusova now occupy the gold and silver medal postions, while Belgian Loena Hendrickx has climbed to third place.
CAS said its decision is “final and binding” but the parties involved have the right to file an appeal to the Swiss Federal Tribunal within 30 days on limited grounds.
USOPC STATEMENT In a statement, the CEO of the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) Sarah Hirshland said: “Today is a day we have been eagerly awaiting for two years, as it is a significant win not only for Team USA athletes but also for athletes worldwide who practice fair play and advocate for clean sport.
“The incredible athletes of Team USA, including Evan Bates, Karen Chen, Nathan Chen, Madison Chock, Zachary Donohue, Brandon Frazier, Madison Hubbell, Alexa Knierim, Vincent Zhou, have displayed remarkable fortitude. Their outstanding performances in Beijing will forever symbolize their commitment to clean competition.
“We take immense pride in the United States Figure Skating Team and their historic performance. Not only did they achieve their best-ever finish, score the highest number of points ever, and achieve firsts in three different disciplines, but they also embody the spirit and principles of the Olympic Movement.
“We now anticipate the day when we can wholeheartedly celebrate these athletes, along with their peers from around the world. Their moment is approaching, and when it arrives, it will serve as a testament to the justice and recognition they truly deserve.”
GOLD FOR TEAM USA The United States Figure Skating team, which finished second behind the Russian Olympic Committee Team, will receive the gold medal, while Japan have been upgraded to silver and Team ROC demoted to bronze.
Valieva, then 15, was the star of the show as Team ROC took first place in Beijing, landing the first ever quadruple jump by a woman in Olympic competition during the free skate portion of the team event. But the following day February 8, her doping sample - collected on December 25, 2021 - returned positive for trimetazidine, a heart medication that enhances performance. No medals had been awarded due to the doping scandal.
The ban imposed Valieva is backdated to the day the positive sample was collected.
ISU STATEMENT The ISU said in a statement: “As a result and according to art. 10.10 ISU Anti-Doping Rules and 12.10 of the RUS Anti-Doping Rules, Ms. Valieva will be disqualified from all competitions which took place during the period of ineligibility, this includes the ISU European Figure Skating Championships 2022. She will also be disqualified from the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games Women’s single competition and all her individual results and points in the Short Program and the Free Skating competitions will be dismissed leading to a re-ranking of the Team event results.”
SKATE CANADA DISAGREES After the recalculation, the ROC, which previously had 74 points, they lost 20 points. With 54 points they still managed to secure a podium place , while Canada remained in fourth place with 53 points. Canada’s skating federation (Skate Canada) is however “extremely disappointed”with the with the ISU’s position and “will consider all options to appeal this decision”.
DIGNIFIED MEDAL CEREMONY The IOC statement on Monday night said in a statement: “The IOC welcomes the fact that the CAS ruling provides clarity in this case, and the athletes from the team figure skating competition at the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 can finally get their medals, for which they have been waiting so long.” The Olympic body added that it is now in a position to award the medals in accordance with the ranking established by the ISU and it will contact the respective (National Olympic Committees) in order to organise “a dignified Olympic medal ceremony.” No date or location has been provided.
Valieva was disqualified from her fourth-place ranking in the women’s singles event as well as her first-place ranking in the women’s singles event at the ISU European Figure Skating Championships 2022. In the continental competition, her compatriots Anna Shcherbakova and Alexandra Trusova now occupy the gold and silver medal postions, while Belgian Loena Hendrickx has climbed to third place.
CAS said its decision is “final and binding” but the parties involved have the right to file an appeal to the Swiss Federal Tribunal within 30 days on limited grounds.
USOPC STATEMENT In a statement, the CEO of the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) Sarah Hirshland said: “Today is a day we have been eagerly awaiting for two years, as it is a significant win not only for Team USA athletes but also for athletes worldwide who practice fair play and advocate for clean sport.
“The incredible athletes of Team USA, including Evan Bates, Karen Chen, Nathan Chen, Madison Chock, Zachary Donohue, Brandon Frazier, Madison Hubbell, Alexa Knierim, Vincent Zhou, have displayed remarkable fortitude. Their outstanding performances in Beijing will forever symbolize their commitment to clean competition.
“We take immense pride in the United States Figure Skating Team and their historic performance. Not only did they achieve their best-ever finish, score the highest number of points ever, and achieve firsts in three different disciplines, but they also embody the spirit and principles of the Olympic Movement.
“We now anticipate the day when we can wholeheartedly celebrate these athletes, along with their peers from around the world. Their moment is approaching, and when it arrives, it will serve as a testament to the justice and recognition they truly deserve.”
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