South Korean determine skating icon Kim Yuna spoke out towards the continued Kamila Valieva doping controversy in an Instagram publish on Monday, saying an “athlete who violates doping cannot compete in the game (sic).”
The 2010 girls’s singles gold medalist went on to say, “This principle must be observed without exception. All players’ efforts and dreams are equally precious.”
The Instagram publish is the newest response towards the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s (CAS) decision on Monday to permit Valieva to compete for the rest of Beijing 2022, regardless of testing constructive for a prohibited substance in December forward of the Games.
In a press release, CAS stated it had determined Valieva, 15, ought to be allowed to compete on account of “exceptional circumstances,” together with particular provisions linked to her standing as a “protected person” below the WADA code, as a result of she is a minor.
The head of the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) Travis Tygart stated Russia has “hijacked the competition” and “stolen the moment from clean athletes” for the “sixth consecutive Olympic Games.”
While Tygart acknowledged the that decision ought to be revered, he stated that it was “a rushed one.”
“Only time will tell if [Valieva] should be competing in these Games and whether or not all of her results will be disqualified,” he stated.
However, whether it is discovered that Valieva shouldn’t have competed, Tygart stated that the decision will “reveal what a farce the handling of the Russia state-sponsored doping system by the IOC has been over the last eight years.”
“If Russia had followed the rules, we would know for certain the outcome of the Figure Skating Team Event and those athletes who gave it their all could have their podium moment during these Games as they rightfully deserve with the world in celebration with them.”
Read extra in regards to the response to the Valieva decision here.