BEIJING (AFP) – Referees have rejected a final request by American figure skaters to get their silver medals before the Olympics end.
CAS said early Sunday in Beijing She rejected the appeal For the nine skaters, who finished second in the team event, was overshadowed by 15-year-old Russian doping Kamila Valyaeva.
He did not go into his decision and said he would announce details in the coming days. The panel, with referees from Denmark, France and China, met for two and a half hours on Saturday night.
In a previous decision, the CAS allowed Valeeva to compete In the women’s event after her doping infection spread after the Russians won the team event. The IOC responded by saying that no medals would be awarded in any event where Valeeva finished in the top three.
Losing the case means American figure skaters will get their medals months, maybe even years, from now, after Valeeva’s case reaches hearings and appeals. She led the Russians to a convincing victory in the team event. If this score were reversed, the United States would get gold medals.
The skaters argued, unsuccessfully, that the silver should be received at least before the closing ceremony on Sunday night. in a letter The skaters’ lawyer sent to IOC President Thomas Bach, obtained by the Associated Press, said “The IOC’s own rules state that a victory ceremony ‘for awarding medals to athletes must follow the conclusion of each sporting event’ ».
“We were disappointed with the decision. “It is unfortunate that these well-deserved athletes are leaving Beijing without their medals,” said Ramsey Becker, Executive Director of US Figure Skating. “We are proud of our team’s historic achievements and look forward to joining them, their families, friends and the entire United States to celebrate their accomplishments at these Olympic Games.”
A few hours before the decision, the USA team of Alexa Knirim and Brandon Fraser finished sixth. At a couples event. They are among the skaters who will receive team event medals. After skiing on Saturday, Frazier said, “There should be a party for clean athletes. They deserve it”.
In his letter to Bach, attorney Paul Green wrote: “A worthy medal ceremony from the point of view of our clients is one at Medals Plaza as originally planned and awarded to all other medalists.”
Alternatively, the skaters can finish with Olympic lights. At a meeting with skaters earlier this week, Bach presented the torches as souvenirs while using a can of steroids. He later told a news conference that the medals were not supposed to be replaced.
Valieva may never do anything. She finished fourth in the women’s event. Crying because she went off the ice, then criticized by her coach after a long program full of mistakes.
After her tests became public, the Russian Anti-Doping Agency initially temporarily suspended her and later lifted the suspension. This prompted the International Olympic Committee and the World Anti-Doping Agency to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which acted quickly and said that Valeeva could still compete. This time, the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled in favor of the International Olympic Committee.
Neither decision, however, resolves the larger question of the outcome of the team’s competition.
Because she is 15 years old, Valeeva is considered a “protected person” under anti-doping rules and is not expected to receive severe punishment. Her coaches and doctors are under investigation by Russian and world anti-doping authorities.
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Bells reported from Zhangjiakou, China. Associated Press writers Dave Skretta and Aaron Morrison contributed to this report.
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