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One year later, still no team medals from 2022 Beijing Olympics : NPR


Kamila Valieva of Russia competes in the Women’s Singles Free Skating event at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games at the Capital Indoor Stadium on February 7, 2022.

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Kamila Valieva of Russia competes in the Women’s Singles Free Skating event at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games at the Capital Indoor Stadium on February 7, 2022.

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It’s been a not-so-fun Olympic celebration this week.

A year ago, Russia won the team figure skating event at the Beijing Winter Olympics, support by teen phenom Kamila Valieva. But then hers positive drug test ruined the Olympics and left the team’s results in limbo.

Still.

Valieva’s case remains unresolved and the Olympic athletes, including the second-place finishers of the US team, have yet to receive their medals.

Not a joke

On the first day of the team event, last February, Zach Donohue and his US Ice Dance partner Madison Hubbell performed their part.

Their best personal score gave US shares an early lead.

But on the final day of competition, Valieva, then 15 years old, a pre-Olympic favorite, performed as well as advertised. She does historybecame the first female figure skater to perform the revolutionary jump four times at the Olympics…she landed two in her performance…and led the Russians to victory, right before the United States

Donohue recalls the next day, as the American skaters prepared to advance to the silver medal ceremony.

“We were dressed for the ceremony,” said Donohue, “in a room waiting for the bus to arrive at the venue. And we were told, um, so that’s it. [the ceremony] cancel. And we were like ‘ha ha ha. That’s right. Hilarious joke. That’s great, let’s go.'”

But a team official told them – it was no joke. There has been a doping problem and the official couldn’t say more.

“So for all of us,” Donohue said, “the first step was an unbelievable miracle.”

Zachary Donohue and Madison Hubbell of Team USA skate during the Ice Dance Rhythm Team Event during the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games at the Capital Indoor Stadium on February 4, 2022.

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Zachary Donohue and Madison Hubbell of Team USA skate during the Ice Dance Rhythm Team Event during the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games at the Capital Indoor Stadium on February 4, 2022.

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Many emotions follow, such as frustration and disappointment, as the information emerges.

Valieva tested positive for a banned drug from a sample taken more than a month before the Beijing Olympics. Her case should have been resolved, but not by the time the Olympics started. Once her positive test result was confirmed, after the team event, Valieva was allowed keep competing in Beijing.

And then, months began to pass with still no resolution.

“[There was] outrage and just skepticism,” Donohue said, “that this is still the situation.”

sprinkle salt on the wound

Donohue said that there has been a lot of loss for the team’s athletes. They missed their memorable Olympic victory. Those who, like him, are retired, have missed out on financial opportunities from bonuses, appearances and sponsorships. Those who are still competing cannot participate in their events with the status and title of an Olympic medalist.

But he believes the ongoing delays have an even bigger impact, beyond individual team athletes.

“The Olympics represent something very special,” said Donohue. “It’s a neutral playground [where athletes] Come and stand in front of the world, proclaiming their hard work and dedication and their determination and grit and integrity about who they are as athletes.”

“The decision to be delayed for so long really undermines the integrity of the Olympic image and the Olympic values. And I think it takes away a lot of the integrity that the majority of athletes choose, in the competitions. their everyday choices. how they train, how they refuel, how they recover.”

“Therefore [the] The conversation isn’t just a medal ceremony at stake here. [It’s about] the way the world sees this sport and the way the world sees it, specifically figure skating. And that’s what’s really dangerous.”

And now, a recent decision in the Valieva case, seems to have made the situation worse.

“Here we are now,” said anti-doping official Travis Tygart, “rubbing salt into those wounds.”

Tygart, CEO of the US Anti-Doping Agency said salt arrived last month, when the Russian Anti-Doping Agency, RUSADA, decided to ventilation Valieva’s misconduct. Tygart says the decision lacks transparency and independence, and was made by an organization that has been declared non-compliant since 2015.

“[Rusada] declared non-compliant because of its involvement as an instrument of state,” said Tygart, “[for] operate a state-sponsored deliberate doping program in which they knowingly bring and assist athletes from Russia to use drugs within it, intentionally sending them to international competitions to rob other athletes and win at the highest levels.”

Travis Tygart, of the US Anti-Doping Agency, speaking during a 2017 Congressional hearing on “Ways to Improve and Strengthen the International Anti-Doping System.”

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Travis Tygart, of the US Anti-Doping Agency, speaking during a 2017 Congressional hearing on “Ways to Improve and Strengthen the International Anti-Doping System.”

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“And that’s why we used to think we could count on that system to make a fair, objective, independent decision. [on Valieva]? It’s pretty crazy.”

In Russia, an attitude is said to have persisted for many years, that in elite sport everyone does doping but only Russians get penalized.

“We welcome the decision of the RUSADA disciplinary committee,” said Dmitry Svishchev last month. He is the Chairman of the National Duma Committee on Physical Culture and Sports. “I’m sure there’s a strong motivation behind such a decision.”

Another prestige shot

The World Anti-Doping AgencyWADA, said it would likely appeal Valieva’s decision.

Tygart says it’s a must.

“Because of the reputation of the global anti-doping system,” said Tygart, “[WADA] must issue a decision to appeal this case. If they don’t, honestly, it will matter a lot. [In] In the eyes of the public that is watching athletes and those of us who have been fighting for clean sport for many years, it would almost deal a fatal blow to the credibility of the system. “

WADA cannot be blamed in this case, he said; Nor is my figure skating international regulatory body.

“You know, both of them could have come in person [the Court of Arbitration for Sport]and take [the decision] out of Russian hands. And that is what we call for. Because we know, you can’t have a non-conformist [organization] make a fair, balanced decision.”

Instead, it’s now a year later and anti-doping efforts in Olympic sport have taken another hit. Athletes from the US, Japan [3rd place in the team event] and yes, Russia, wait and wonder about their medals.

Although, that’s not always the case.

“I have to be honest, I’ve seen that email many times [updating U.S. athletes on the Valieva case],” said Donohue, “and said ‘Oh my God, I forgot I was waiting for the medal.’ It’s been so long that it’s not even relevant.”

It will though relevant, when Valieva’s guilt or innocence was ultimately decided. And when all the athletes get together to accept whatever medal award brings. That could include skaters from Canada, who finished fourth in the Olympic team event but could be promoted if convicted of a crime that disqualifies not only Valieva but also her Russian team .

As for the athletes waiting, Donohue says he’s heard that they want their stolen Olympic moment to be the real Olympics this time. That means a medal ceremony could happen at next year’s Summer Olympics in Paris.

Assume the case To be closed afterwards.

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