“Demanding four years of disqualification is unfair”: in Russia they reacted to the appeal of WADA and ISU in the case of Valieva

The World Anti-Doping Agency, as promised earlier, filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport against the decision of the RUSADA disciplinary committee in the case of Kamila Valieva.

He ruled that there was no “guilt or negligence” in the skater’s actions, so only the medals of the 2021 Russian Championship were redistributed, the test from which turned out to be positive.

WADA studied the reasoning part of the verdict, as well as other materials provided, and concluded that DAK RUSADA made a mistake.

The organization plans to seek a four-year disqualification in CAS and the annulment of all Valieva's results from the date of taking the analysis on December 25, 2021.

In particular, we are talking about the gold team tournament of the Beijing Olympics.

As noted in the message on the official website, the agency insists on consideration of this case "without further undue delay."

Following WADA, the International Skating Union also sent an appeal to the court, explaining its decision by the need to combat negative phenomena in sports.

“The ISU believes that all young athletes need to be protected from doping.

However, such protection cannot be provided by exempting young athletes from sanctions, ”the organization said in a statement.

The federation also asked CAS to determine the final results of the team tournament at the 2022 Games in Beijing.

But unlike WADA, it did not demand a four-year disqualification of the Russian woman, leaving the sentence to the discretion of the arbitrators.

First of all, the International Olympic Committee reacted to this news.

The organization welcomed the decision of WADA and ISU to finally transfer the case to CAS, since at the end of the process it will be possible to award medals to the participants in the team tournament of the Olympics.

Most interested in punishing Valieva in the United States.

After all, then the Americans will receive gold.

At the same time, according to the head of USADA, Travis Tigert, the case in the CAS is necessary, among other things, to restore confidence in the entire anti-doping system, which made a big mistake.

After all, the results of Valieva’s December doping test became known only at the 2022 Games due to malfunctions in the Stockholm laboratory

Otherwise, Camila most likely would not have gone to the tournament, and there would have been no loud scandal.

“Now let’s hope that the hearings will be expedited and open to the public so that athletes whose dreams hang in the balance can have confidence in the final result, whatever it may be, and so that some kind of justice can still be restored soon, ”Tygert is quoted as saying by USA Today.

In Russia, WADA and ISU appeals were expected.

What surprised everyone the most was that the agency demands the maximum possible punishment for Valieva, while RUSADA chose the minimum measure.

According to lawyer Anna Antseliovich, the organization does not seem to see any reason to reduce sanctions.

“There is a division: complete fault of the athlete, minor fault or no fault.

The Disciplinary Anti-Doping Committee ruled no fault, and what WADA is asking for is total fault.

It is possible to avoid disqualification for four years.

This is a competitive process, and the question here is to what extent the parties will be able to prove their position.

But you need to understand that it will be defended not only by RUSADA and the athlete, but also by WADA, ”RIA Novosti quoted Antseliovich as saying.

In any case, according to experts, it is too harsh to demand such a punishment for a Russian woman in the circumstances.

Although, as coach Alexander Zhulin notes, no one expects objectivity from international organizations anymore.

“It was clear that WADA would appeal to CAS.

Of course, demanding four years of disqualification is unfair.

Now everything they do is unfair, ”said the specialist.

Honored coach of the USSR Tatyana Tarasova also did not hide her indignation at the WADA appeal.

According to her, now Valieva especially needs support.

“When will this end?

How and for how long can you poison the best girl in figure skating?

Sick people!

They know that she is the best and they specifically drown, ”Tarasova was indignant.

At the same time, she is sure that it is too early for the skater to give up.

The chances of winning the case remain.

“I think Camila is absolutely not to blame.

We must also have serious people who will defend its interests, the interests of the country.

We are absolutely right, we do not lie, we do not invent.

There is always a chance.

You can be in last place in the short program, but still have a chance to win the competition.

You can skate so that in the end you will be the first, ”said Tarasova.

Of course, much is now in the hands of lawyers who will represent the interests of Valieva.

In her favor, of course, the status of a protected person: the skater was 15 years old at the time of the test.

The motivational part of DAK RUSADA is also important.

Russian experts did not see "guilt and negligence" on the part of Kamila.

So, there were reasons not to punish her to the fullest extent.

A year ago, during the Olympics, a version was voiced that the girl unintentionally took her grandfather's medicine.

According to Olympic champion Svetlana Zhurova, a large number of times in such cases, athletes were not punished at all, and if they were suspended, then for a minimum period.

“Camila's case looks quite politicized precisely for this reason.

Other mechanisms have turned on here, ”Match TV quotes the words of the State Duma deputy.

At the same time, you should not expect a quick decision from CAS, even if the court tries to speed up as much as possible.

The study of documents, hearings and a verdict will take at best two or three months.

“Everything can be delayed, especially if one of the parties says that they need to conduct some kind of scientific examination,” Anceliovich said.

So, before the summer, Valieva's case will not be brought to an end.

However, not all participants in the Beijing Olympics are waiting for it at all.

As American Zachary Donoghue noted in an interview, the investigation has been going on for so long that it has already lost its significance.