The consequences of this decision extend to the United States, which is now poised to be named the Olympic champion as the second-place finisher.The International Olympic Committee (IOC) opted not to present any medals for the event in Beijing, aligning with the tumultuous circumstances surrounding Valieva’s doping case.
CAS upheld appeals led by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), urging the disqualification of Valieva from the Olympics and a subsequent ban. Contrary to a Russian sports tribunal’s clearance of Valieva, the CAS judges banned her for four years, concluding in December 2025.
The U.S. team, having secured silver in Beijing, stands to be upgraded to gold. The IOC’s executive board will convene in March to address the reallocation of medals in the aftermath of Valieva’s disqualification.
Valieva’s legal team, led by lawyer Andrea Pinna, is reviewing the CAS decision before determining whether to appeal to the Swiss supreme court. Appeals to the Swiss supreme court are limited to procedural grounds, not the merits of the case.
The defense argued that Valieva was contaminated by traces of the medication trimetazidine used by her grandfather. However, CAS, after careful consideration of the evidence, concluded that Valieva could not establish her innocence in the doping violation.
The case unfolded amidst legal chaos during the Beijing Olympics, with Valieva’s sample notification delayed until after her competition in the team event. Despite the positive test revelation, she continued to skate, leading to an error-filled performance in the individual event.
(Inputs from AP)