The Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) gave 'exoneration' to the country's figure skater Kamila Balieva (17), who made the world a fuss throughout last year over suspicion of taking a banned drug, and the controversy is expected to spread again.



The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) said on the 14th (Korean time), "The RUSADA Disciplinary Committee, which has investigated the case, has concluded that even if Balieva violated anti-doping rules, she is not responsible for fault or negligence." The disciplinary committee only invalidated the results of the competition on December 25, 2021, when Baliyeva's doping samples were collected, and did not impose any disciplinary action on Balieva," it announced on the website on the 14th (Korean time).



"We have requested RUSADA to submit all the data that led to this conclusion, and we will review whether RUSADA's decision complies with WADA regulations," he said. We will file a complaint with the Court of Arbitration (CAS).”



Fundamentally, WADA's strong distrust that RUSADA's decision cannot be trusted is expected to prolong the closure of the Baliyeva case.



When RUSADA postponed the investigation of Balieva's case, WADA filed a complaint against RUSADA and Balieva to CAS regardless of RUSADA's investigation results in November of last year, and imposed a 4-year suspension of Balieva's qualifications as a player, along with a positive test sample collection date of December 2021. Requested cancellation of all of Balieva's competition results after 24 March.



As RUSADA's decision came out two months after the CAS filing, it is expected that WADA will closely examine the data and decide on future measures.



Balieva caused a stir when trimetazidine, a banned drug ingredient, was detected in a urine sample submitted in December 2021 during the Beijing Winter Olympics in February last year.



Trimetazidine is used to treat angina and is also available as a stimulant, which has been on the WADA's list of illegal drugs since 2014.



Valieva complained of injustice, saying the doping sample tested positive for the drug because her grandfather's heart medication was mixed in.



However, as her criticism surged, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) canceled the award ceremony and the gold medal awarding ceremony for the team event at the Beijing Winter Olympics by the Russian Olympic Committee, led by Balieva, and decided to postpone it until the Balieva case was settled.



When Baliyeva's incident became the biggest scandal at the Beijing Winter Olympics, CAS held an emergency meeting during the Games and allowed Baliyeva to participate normally in the women's singles event, citing that she was a minor under the age of 16 without self-initiative for drug use. also encouraged



Baliyeva, seemingly burdened by her criticism, made a series of mistakes and failed to medal in fourth place.



The United States, which won the silver medal in the team figure skating event at the Beijing Winter Olympics, is still sticking to the toughest attitude toward Russia and Balieva.



When Baliyeva's doping violations result in her gold medal being stripped by the Russian Olympic Committee, the United States takes over the gold medal.



In a written response to Reuters, US Anti-Doping Agency Commissioner Travis Tigert said that WADA and the International Skating Union (ISU) are "immediately and jointly committed" to RUSADA's decision to uphold the integrity of the anti-doping regime and ensure the rights of all athletes fairly. I raised my voice to appeal.



(Photo = Yonhap News)