Beijing Olympic figure skating team Japan wins silver medal as Valieva's results are invalidated

The International Skating Union (ISU) has decided to invalidate the performance of Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva, who was suspended for four years for a doping violation, from her performance at the Beijing Olympics last year. As a result, Japan's medal, which had placed third in the team figure skating competition, was moved up to a silver medal.

Regarding Valieva's doping violation that was discovered at the Beijing Olympics last year, the CAS (Court of Arbitration for Sport) suspended her for four years from the Russian Championships in December 2021, where banned substances were detected, and from all competitions during that time. A ruling was made to cancel the grade.

In response to this, the International Skating Union on the 30th invalidated the competition results of Valieva, who competed as a member of the Russian Olympic Committee and won the gold medal for the figure skating team at the Beijing Olympics.

Although the Russian Olympic Committee itself was not disqualified, Valieva's results were invalidated and her ranking dropped to third place, with the United States in second place receiving the gold medal and Japan in third place receiving the silver medal. became.

Valieva's performance in the women's singles, where she placed fourth, was also invalidated.

As the competition results were treated as provisional by the Beijing Games team, medals have not been awarded to the athletes even though it has been almost two years since the Games.

JOC Managing Director Ogata: “I would welcome the move forward.”

Mitsugu Ogata, Managing Director of the JOC (Japan Olympic Committee), commented on Japan's progress to the silver medal, saying, ``I believe it is our mission to recognize and protect clean athletes. Of course, I would welcome the move forward," he said, adding that he would continue to monitor the situation, saying, "However, there is a possibility that the Russian side may appeal."

Regarding the current situation where medals have not been handed out to the athletes even after two years since the Games, he said, ``We are going through the process of the Court of Arbitration for Sport, so it takes time, but it is a very long time for the athletes.The medals will be handed out to the athletes at some point. I would like to think about things like that," he said.