“RUSADA is convinced that the athlete’s fault in the violation of the rules exists, but it is minimal, and a reasonable sanction could be a warning.” RUSADA on its appeal to CAS
Director General of the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) Veronika Loginova explained the situation around the doping case of figure skater Kamila Valieva.
source: TASS
Earlier, the RUSADA Disciplinary Anti-Doping Committee, which is an independent body, found Valieva not guilty of a doping violation. However, today it became known that RUSADA appealed this verdict to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
“After studying the full reasoned decision on this case, issued by an independent body for anti-doping disputes, RUSADA has decided to exercise its right to appeal this decision to CAS,” said Loginova.
“After examining the motives behind the decision, RUSADA believes that the athlete’s side was unable to prove, at the level established by the rules, her complete lack of fault. As at the stage of presenting the case to the Disciplinary Anti-Doping Committee, RUSADA is convinced that the athlete’s fault in the violation of the rules exists, but it is minimal, and a reasonable sanction could be a warning.
At this stage, RUSADA is not authorized to comment on the substance of the case, so it cannot disclose the grounds for its position or the requested sanction. The substantiated position of RUSADA has been presented to CAS for objective and impartial consideration by the arbitrators,” added the director general of RUSADA.
Related topics: Kamila Valieva
I don’t think there will be a 4-year ban. But I also don’t think, especially after the lack of accountability for more than a year now (“oh, it’s the lab’s fault”, “oh, it was grandpa’s glass and total coincidence”, “oh, woe is me, everyone is out to get us”..), it’s gonna be merely a warning.