By Gabrielle Tétrault-Farber, Iain Axon and Karolos Grohmann

BEIJING (Reuters). Russian figure skater Kamila Vaieva, who was reported by Russian media to have tested positive for a banned substance at age 15, showed up to her practice at Beijing Olympics.

This teenager represented the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC), which won Monday’s figure skating event ahead of Japan and the United States. Unknown legal reasons have delayed the ceremony that would present her medals to her teammates.

Valieva wore a navy blue jacket, shorts and black tights, with her hair in a ponytail. She took to the ice shortly after 11 AM. Eteri Tutberidze was also there.

After becoming the first female quadruple jumper at the Olympics, she performed the quadruple jumps under pressure.

In the mixed zone where athletes are interviewed by journalists, Valieva refused to answer any questions.

Russian media reported Wednesday that Valieva returned positive to a drug test. Kommersant and RBC both named the drug Trimetazidine (which is commonly used for chest pain).

Multiple attempts by Reuters to contact the ROC chef-de mission were in vain. The ROC office in Beijing, which was closed on Thursday due to lock down and non-operational security at the ROC headquarters in Beijing, was also not accessible. On Wednesday, the ROC declined to comment about reports that Valieva had tested positive.

The International Olympics Committee refused to answer any questions at a Thursday press conference, citing legal concerns.

LEGAL PROBLEM

The USA and Japan are still waiting for Valieva’s medals, and there is uncertainty over her participation in Tuesday’s next event.

According to WADA’s world anti-doping code https://www.wada-ama.org/sites/default/files/resources/files/2021_wada_code.pdf, athletes who commit doping violations should be publicly named, but this is not required if the person concerned is a minor under the age of 18.

According to rule 14.3.7 in this case, the optional public disclosures “shall correspond to the facts of the case and the circumstances”.

David Howman (ex-director general, WADA) told Reuters that minors must have parental consent before they can be tested.

Howman explained, “It’s the worst nightmare any organisation has for athletes to compete in the Games and then come back positive during the Games.”

“It is extremely unusual for a positive result to be returned between the competition and medal ceremony. A normal procedure would be to disqualify an athlete in this position, but it hasn’t occurred here.

According to him, the last time he can recall a ceremony being missed was the moment that South African Caster Selenya won 800m at World Athletics Championships Berlin.

Mark Adams, an IOC spokesperson, asked other figure skaters for their patience and understanding as they dealt with the legal matter. He stated that Olympic officials will work quickly to resolve the issue of the medal ceremony.

Adams explained that Adams understands the needs of the athletes and wants a successful outcome.

RUSSIAN FORM

Due to sanctions against Russia, Russian athletes will not be able to compete in the Beijing Games.

Russia admits to some deficiencies in the implementation of antidoping rules, but it denies having a state-sponsored program.

One of the most memorable moments of Beijing Games was when Valieva landed quadruple jumps for a woman in Olympic competition.

Russia is proud to have figure skaters as a national sport. National outcry would be likely if Valieva was penalized or the medals were taken away from her team.

Vasily Konov, a well-known journalist and deputy general producer of Russian channel Match-TV said that the questionable sample had been collected two months prior to his death.

Trimetazidine doesn’t help any athlete. None at all. In December, it was only found in one sample. This was an insignificant amount. “Nothing in her samples before nor since,” he posted on social media.

There is not doping as such in conventional terms. No! The cardiac drug doesn’t have any effect on…performance. Leave Kamila now.

Tatiana Volosozhar (former Russian pairs skater) showed solidarity and support for Valieva via social media.

Valieva liked her post on Instagram.

Trimetazidine (or TMZ) increases blood flow to the heart, and reduces blood pressure swings. It is not authorized for US use. Since 2014, it has been listed on the WADA list of banned substances.

Howman stated, “It’s not something you would accidentally take, it isn’t something you would ordinarily get prescribed and it certainly not something you would expect to be prescribed for a fifteen-year-old.”

“It’s very disappointing, and a shame, that Russians still test positive at major events after the hardships that their country has endured.”