IOC postpones Olympics figure skating medal ceremony for ‘legal’ reasons

The Beijing Olympics figure skating team competition medal ceremony was delayed due to “legal issues,” according to International Olympic Committee (IOC) spokesperson Mark Adams during a press conference Wednesday. The ceremony was planned to take place Tuesday but was postponed with no new date announced. On Thursday, Adams refused to comment on the matter, calling overnight reporting on anti-doping issues “all sorts of speculation.”

This “speculation” refers to a report from Russian newspaper RBC that Kamila Valieva tested positive for trimetazidine, a heart medication banned by the World Doping Agency because it enhances endurance. During the team competition, the 15-year-old from Kazan Russia, became the first woman to land a quadruple jump at the Olympics and helped carry the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) to its first-place standing.

Neither the ROC nor the International Skating Union (ISU) have revealed information on the controversy. The ISU stated that it “cannot disclose any information about any possible Anti-Doping rule violation.” The ROC has said it will not comment until the IOC’s press release, but the team appears confident, as Valieva was on the ice practicing Thursday.

While the IOC works through the legal process set forth by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, the figure skaters wait to find out the status of their medals. If Valieva is disqualified, the US will move into the gold medal position, with Japan taking silver and Canada taking bronze. Due to the required procedure of the legal process, as well as the complicating factor of Valieva being a minor, the Olympics could be over before there is a result.