The Canadian figure skating squad figures to be watching closely as the IOC works through what it calls a legal situation that has caused the medal ceremony for the team event to be delayed in Beijing.
BREAKING: A drugs test conducted on an Russian skater before #Beijing2022 is behind the delay in the medal ceremony for the #figureskating team event, insidethegames understandshttps://t.co/HmT1iWThly #WinterOlympics
— insidethegames (@insidethegames) February 9, 2022
Michael Pavitt of insidethegames reports that there is a situation involving the gold medal-winning Russian team and the international doping authorities. According to Pavitt, a drug test being conducted on a Russian skater is the reason behind the delay in the medal ceremony.
If any athlete and team were disqualified, an appeal would likely follow to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Canada placed fourth and would be in line to be upgraded.
Christine Brennan of USA Today reports four Russians involved in the team event were not at practice on Wednesday.
The plot thickens: Four Russians who competed in the team event did not show up at their practices today, a source has told me: Kamila Valieva, Mark Kondratiuk and the pair team of Mishina-Galliamov. The ice dancers were at practice I am told.
— Christine Brennan (@cbrennansports) February 9, 2022
IOC spokesman Mark Davis said at a press conference on Wednesday that “an emerging issue” has developed. The IOC is consulting with the International Skating Union.
Davis declined to discuss details of the issue.
The ceremony to award the Russian team the gold medals, the United States silver and Japan bronze was not held as scheduled Tuesday.
In a one-line statement, the International Skating Union also cited ongoing legal talks.
— With files from The Associated Press
[relatedlinks]
