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Winter Olympics: Kremlin backs Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva, 15, who failed drugs test – ‘don’t hide your face, perform and defeat everybody’

  • “We boundlessly and fully support Kamila Valieva and call on everyone to support her,” Kremlin spokesman tells reporters
  • Court of Arbitration for Sport to hold urgent hearing over whether team gold medallist can compete in women’s event

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Russia’s Kamila Valieva attends a training session on Friday. Photo: AFP

The Kremlin said on Friday it was fully behind Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva, whose Olympic gold medal hangs in the balance after she failed a doping test.

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“We boundlessly and fully support Kamila Valieva and call on everyone to support her,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

“And we say to Kamila: don’t hide your face. You are a Russian – perform and defeat everybody,” Peskov added.

He said the Kremlin was encouraging everyone to wait for the results of the investigation and for the International Olympic Committee to make its decision.

02:02

Winter Olympics skater Kamila Valieva’s win under scrutiny after drug reports in Russian media

Winter Olympics skater Kamila Valieva’s win under scrutiny after drug reports in Russian media

“We are convinced that this is some kind of misunderstanding,” Peskov said.

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