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Kamila Valieva: Canada and Russia appeal against reallocation of figure skating team medals

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Kamila Valieva skating in a red outfitImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Kamila Valieva, then aged 15, tested positive for banned heart medication trimetazidine in December 2021

Canada and Russia have appealed against the reallocation of the 2022 Olympic team figure skating medals, the Court of Arbitration for Sport has confirmed.

Russia were dropped from gold to bronze by the International Skating Union (ISU) after Kamila Valieva, 17, got a four-year ban for doping in January.

The United States were promoted to gold with Japan taking silver.

Canada believe they should have been awarded bronze, while Russia want to be reinstated as gold medallists.

Despite removing Valieva's marks, the ISU said Russia's total score was a point higher than fourth-place Canada's.

There is currently no indication as to when a hearing may take place to resolve the matter.

The eight members of the Canada team, supported by their national federation, disagree with the ISU's calculations and believe they should have received one more point than the Russians to take a place on the podium.

Meanwhile, the Russians have launched three separate appeals - from the national Olympic committee, the national skating federation and from their six skaters, including Valieva, who are asking to be moved back up into gold-medal position.

ISU regulations only provide for collective disqualification in the event of a positive doping control of one of the athletes during the competition, not one from eight weeks before as was the case with Valieva.

The medals were not awarded in Beijing because of the doubts surrounding Valieva, and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has not yet indicated when, or where, a medal ceremony will be held.