South Korean figure skating icon Kim Yuna spoke out against the ongoing Kamila Valieva doping controversy in an Instagram post on Monday, saying an “athlete who violates doping cannot compete in the game (sic).”
The 2010 women’s singles gold medalist went on to say, “This principle must be observed without exception. All players’ efforts and dreams are equally precious.”
The Instagram post is the latest reaction against the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s (CAS) decision on Monday to allow Valieva to compete for the remainder of Beijing 2022, despite testing positive for a prohibited substance in December ahead of the Games.
In a statement, CAS said it had decided Valieva, 15, should be allowed to compete due to “exceptional circumstances,” including specific provisions linked to her status as a “protected person” under the WADA code, because she is a minor.
The head of the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) Travis Tygart said Russia has “hijacked the competition” and “stolen the moment from clean athletes” for the “sixth consecutive Olympic Games.”
While Tygart acknowledged the that decision should be respected, he said that it was “a rushed one.”
“Only time will tell if [Valieva] should be competing in these Games and whether or not all of her results will be disqualified,” he said.
However, if it is found that Valieva should not have competed, Tygart said that the verdict will “reveal what a farce the handling of the Russia state-sponsored doping system by the IOC has been over the last eight years.”
“If Russia had followed the rules, we would know for certain the outcome of the Figure Skating Team Event and those athletes who gave it their all could have their podium moment during these Games as they rightfully deserve with the world in celebration with them.”
Read more about the reaction to the Valieva decision here.
