(Reuters) – Following are reactions to Russian Kamila Valieva being cleared to compete in the women’s singles in figure skating at the Beijing Olympics after a decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), sport’s top court, on Monday.
UNITED STATES OLYMPIC & PARALYMPIC CEO SARAH HIRSHLAND
“We are disappointed by the message this decision sends. It is the collective responsibility of the entire Olympic community to protect the integrity of sport and to hold our athletes, coaches and all involved to the highest of standards.
“Athletes have the right to know they are competing on a level playing field. Unfortunately, today that is being denied. This appears to be another chapter in the systematic and pervasive disregard for clean sport by Russia.”
UNITED STATES ANTI-DOPING AGENCY CEO TRAVIS TYGART
“Only time will tell if she (Valieva) should be competing in these Games and whether or not all of her results will be disqualified.
“Unfortunately, either way, for the sixth consecutive Olympic Games, Russia has hijacked the competition and stolen the moment from clean athletes and the public.
“In addition to athletes and the public, this young athlete has been terribly let down by the Russians and the global anti-doping system that unfairly cast her into this chaos.”
CANADIAN OLYMPIC COMMITTEE PRESIDENT TRICIA SMITH
“The situation that has unfolded with respect to the Russian figure skating athlete’s doping case is extremely unfortunate and sad for the athletes.
“The COC is fully committed to clean sport and we firmly believe that no one involved in doping or other corrupt practices has a place in the Olympic Movement.
“While we trust that the CAS decision was the result of a fair process, we are extremely disappointed with this result.”
GERMAN OLYMPIC COMMITTEE PRESIDENT THOMAS WEIKERT
“On the one hand, it is clear that the expiration of the ban for Russian sports as a whole at the end of 2022 does not take into account the differences between the various sports.
“An individual look of each sport would likely have been more appropriate in the sense of a consistent fight against doping.
“On the other hand, there is the question of what kind of elite sport we want to have. The current case reinforces our perception that young athletes should be given time. A humane elite sport must not demand a lot too early.”
AMERICAN JOHNNY WEIR, TWICE OLYMPIC FIGURE SKATER
“I can’t condone the decision. There was a positive drug test, therefore the athlete who tested positive, at fault or not, regardless of age or timing of test/result, should not be allowed to compete against clean athletes.”
AMERICAN TARA LIPINSKI, FORMER FIGURE SKATER WHO WON GOLD
“I strongly disagree with this decision. At the end of the day, there was a positive test and there is no question in my mind that she should not be allowed to compete.
“Regardless of age or timing of the test/results. I believe this will leave a permanent scar on our sport.”
RUSSIAN OLYMPIC COMMITTEE
“Tomorrow we’ll be rooting for her and all our great figure skaters in singles skating.”
RUSSIAN FIGURE SKATING FEDERATION PRESIDENT ALEXANDER GORSHKOV
“I’m very happy for Valieva and glad that common sense and justice triumphed.”
(Compiled by Manasi Pathak in Bengaluru; Editing by Shri Navaratnam and Ken Ferris)
