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Russian skater Valieva cleared to compete at Olympics

14 February 2022
19763
2022-02-14 15:25

Russian teenager Kamila Valieva has been cleared to compete in the women's figure skating competition at the Winter Olympics despite failing a pre-Games drug test.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled that the 15-year-old should not be provisionally suspended. The court gave her a favorable decision in part because she was a minor or “protected person" and was subject to different rules from an adult athlete.

She tested positive for a banned heart drug before the Olympics, on Dec. 25. Athletes under 16 like Valieva have more rights under anti-doping rules and typically aren’t held responsible for taking banned substances.

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