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Explainer | Winter Olympics doping scandal: what is 15-year-old Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva accused of, and what will the Court of Arbitration for Sport have to decide?

  • Here’s everything you need to know about doping scandal surrounding Beijing 2022 gold medallist
  • Valieva set to learn her fate on Monday, as she hopes to compete in women’s single short programme

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Russian Olympic Committee figure skater Kamila Valieva takes part in an official training session at the Beijing Winter Olympics on February 13, 2022. Photo: Kyodo

Russia’s 15-year-old skating prodigy Kamila Valieva is set to compete against 29 other athletes in the women’s figure skating individual short programme on Tuesday night at the Beijing Winter Olympics – but only if she is cleared at a drugs hearing on Sunday night.

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A Russian Anti-Doping Agency (Rusada) disciplinary committee lifted a temporary suspension on Valieva on Wednesday, after she tested positive for a banned drug.

Now, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) are challenging the decision, which will be decided by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

If a ban is imposed, it would be a big blow to the figure skater, who became the first woman ever to perform a quadruple jump at the Olympics, when she won gold with the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) in the team event on Monday.

A hearing is scheduled for 8.30pm on Sunday, and her fate will remain undecided until a ruling is returned on Monday afternoon.

Russian Olympic Committee figure skater Kamila Valieva takes part in an official training session at the Beijing Winter Olympics on February 13, 2022. Photo: Kyodo
Russian Olympic Committee figure skater Kamila Valieva takes part in an official training session at the Beijing Winter Olympics on February 13, 2022. Photo: Kyodo

Why was Valieva suspended?

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