RUSADA tested Valieva for doping in July and November – Kommersant

The Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) tested figure skater Kamila Valieva twice for doping in 2023 – in July and in November, reports TASS with reference to RUSADA materials.

As the agency found out, in November the organization tested 12 more skaters for doping – Yulia Artemyeva, Alexey Bryukhanov, Ekaterina Chikmareva, Vladislav Dikidzhi, Alexey Erokhov, Matvey Yanchenkov, Makar Ignatov, Irina Khavronina, Mark Kondratyuk, Sofya Muravyova, David Narizhny and Daria Sadkova.

During January-November 2023, RUSADA checked 73 skaters. Most often, five times, Adelia Petrosyan was tested, TASS reports.

During the 2022 Olympics in Beijing became knownthat the banned drug trimetazidine was found in Kamila Valieva’s sample taken in 2021 at the Russian Championships in St. Petersburg.

RUSADA, following an investigation into the incident with the figure skater, stated that Valieva had committed a doping violation, but did not find any signs of “guilt or negligence” in her actions and considered it unacceptable to apply any sanctions against the skater other than the cancellation of the results shown on the day when she tested positive.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the International Skating Union (ISU) appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). WADA is seeking a four-year disqualification for Valieva with the cancellation of all results shown after the positive test. The ISU agrees to a two-year suspension.

The athlete herself does not admit guilt. The girl’s defense claims that trimetazidine was used by Valieva’s grandfather after heart surgery, who took her to training and home. The athlete assumes that the drug entered her body due to the fact that she drank from the same mug as her grandfather. CAS will endure final decision in the Valieva case in January 2024.

Erdni Kagaltynov