By Gabrielle Tétrault-Farber, Karolos Grohmann and Julien Pretot

BEIJING (Reuters – Kamila Valieva, 15, was defended by Kamila Vasilieva on Saturday. However, Russia’s coach for the girl in question broke her silence and vowed to hold a hearing regarding Valieva’s fate at the Winter Games.

In an interview with Russian state television, coach Eteri Tutberidze claimed that Valieva was clean and innocent after she hugged her figure skater prodigy.

Valieva’s fate at the Winter Games is set to be determined by Monday afternoon Beijing Time, following a hearing held by Court of Arbitration for Sport on Sunday. CAS made this statement in a statement Saturday.

After the shocking revelation that the figure skating champion had been tested positive for an illegal heart drug, her Olympic chances are now in jeopardy. However, it was more than six months before the positive test was published.

Valieva will compete in Tuesday’s women’s single event.

YOUNG ATLETES

Valieva was one of the youngest ever athletes to be found positive for doping at the Olympics. This case has caused outrage from athletes and fans around the globe.

Olympic officials stated earlier that they were open to an anti-doping probe into Russian coaches, doctors and relatives in Valieva’s entourage.

Many people have raised concerns about the adult role in the teen skater’s life and continue Russian doping in international sport.

Dick Pound (a member of IOC) told Reuters Russia could need to be granted an Olympic “timeout” following the recent doping scandal.

While the West is enraged by NATO’s troop buildup, the Kremlin considers Valieva’s case to be a “misunderstanding.”

Rachael denhollander was the first to accuse Larry Nassar, former USA Gymnastics coach, of sexual abuse. She told Reuters that the failed drug test served as a reminder about how fragile young athletes are.

Denhollander stated to Reuters that a child cannot choose to be given these medications unless it’s ordered by an authority.

“What we really see is the devastating damage to the child who was under the care of adults who valued her for not who she is, but what she can bring for them.”

COACH ADDS HER VOICE

Tutberidze’s legacy is that she raised a generation Russian skaters who have had a stellar, but brief career. The only woman in the world capable of landing quadruple leaps is Tutberidze’s skaters.

On Saturday, she joined in with the growing outrage from Russian officials about the delays in receiving the positive result for the drug test.

Between Valieva’s Dec. 25 sample and February 8, Valieva was informed by a laboratory in Stockholm that her blood had been taken for the prohibited heart drug trimetazidine.

Tutberidze said that “it’s not clear why an athlete with suspected doping on December 25 was allowed to compete at Olympics.”

It could be a tragic confluence of events or a well-thought-out plan. I trust that the officials of our government will stand by us and protect our rights.

Russian Olympic Committee, the Russian figure-skating federation and the Russian antidoping agency RUSADA have all questioned the timeline.

World Anti-Doping Agency has accredited the Karolinska University Hospital (NYSE:) Doping Control Laboratory.

RUSADA stated that there was a delay due to a high level of COVID-19 in the laboratory, which had an impact on staff and the quarantine rules.

Anton Pohanka was not available for comment.

According to the International Olympic Committee, Saturday’s delay was a matter for WADA. Reuters couldn’t immediately reach them.

The Games results can take up to 24 hours depending on what type of test is being used. However, the Olympics results are quickly processed due to the need for fast results for many athletes participating in multiple events.

A six-week delay in testing is uncommon, but there might be factors that could mitigate it, according to Jean-Pierre Verdy. He was once director of testing for the French Anti-Doping Agency. Verdy helped identify many high-profile riders on Tour de France.

Verdy explained to Reuters that delays in getting confirmation can occur due to long waiting times, as well as the delivery time of a sample, the additional analysis and reanalysis time required to confirm its presence, and that screenings must be sent to multiple labs for external confirmation – some labs aren’t equipped to do so – Verdy said.