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American skaters
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) “decided to reject (Saturday) the request” of the nine american skaters who wanted to receive their silver medal in the team event before the end of the Beijing Olympics on Sunday.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) had decided not to award the medals for this event won by the Russian team, with Kamila Valieva, as long as the procedure concerning her following her positive doping control had not been settled, which should take several months. “After the conclusion of the hearing, the panel deliberated and decided to deny the request. Accordingly, the decision of the IOC Executive Board of February 14, 2022 not to hold the medal ceremony for the event team figure skating during the Olympic Games Beijing 2022 winter competition is maintained”, explained the CAS in a press release after a videoconference. The choice to postpone the podium beyond the closing ceremony is an unprecedented situation following the decision of the CAS to leave Valieva continue his Games, confirming the lifting of his provisional suspension. He aroused numerous criticisms, in particular from athletes’ organizations, who considered that he prejudiced the Americans and the Japanese, respectively second and third in the event, as much as the Russians.
Video: Beijing 2022 – CAS announces that Valieva is authorized to participate in the Olympics (Dailymotion)
Alexa Knierim’s request
The nine American petitioners, Evan Bates, Karen Chen, Nathan Chen, Madison Chock, Zachary Donohue, Brandon Frazier, Madison Hubbell, Alexa Knierim and Vincent Zhou, wanted “a decision quickly”. “Why should the IOC not organize a ceremony? A ceremony is needed for clean athletes who have performed well, they deserve to live this moment”, explained Knierim, after finishing in 6th place in the couples event at the alongside Frazier on Saturday. The governing body of the Olympic Games, on the other hand, organized the medal ceremony for the individual event on Friday: Kamila Valieva, cracking under the pressure during the free program, finished fourth.