Russia's Star Olympic Skater Is In Trouble & It Could Mean A Medal For Canada

A Russian figure skater is set to be stripped of her gold medal from the 2022 Olympics, meaning Canada may be receiving a bronze medal for the event.

On Monday it was announced Kamila Valieva was disqualified from the 2022 Beijing Games, two years after a doping scandal put her in the spotlight at the Olympics.

The Associated Press reports the verdict from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Switzerland means Russia will lose its gold medal in the figure skating team event and it will be given to the U.S. team instead.

Canada, which placed fourth in the event, could now be upgraded to a bronze medal due to the circumstances.

According to the AP, Valieva, who was 15 years old at the 2022 Olympics, tested positive for a banned heart medication at another event before the Olympics.

However, the young athlete continued to compete at the Games after she was cleared by a Russian tribunal.

Valieva was a star performer at the Beijing Olympics, becoming the first female figure skater to execute a quadruple jump twice in a routine during the Games.

However, the doping scandal was tough on the young athlete and she struggled under the spotlight at the final event.

Following the court's decision on Monday, the Russian Olympic figure skater not only lost her gold medal but was also handed a four-year ban.

The ban is effective from December 2021, when the positive sample was collected, as per the Olympics website. It will end in December 2025 and all her "competitive results" since the date of her failed test "have been disqualified."

"The CAS panel concluded that Ms. Valieva was not able to establish, on the balance of probabilities and on the basis of the evidence before the Panel, that she had not committed the (doping violation) intentionally," the CAS announced on Monday as per the Associated Press.

The outlet also reports that Valieva’s legal team is reviewing the decision and may appeal to the Swiss Supreme Court.

This article's cover image was used for illustrative purposes only.