On Monday 7 February, the 15-year-old Kamila Valieva made history after becoming the first woman to land a gravity-defying quadruple jump at the Olympics. This standout performance should have been met with days of celebratory jubilation but instead, they were shrouded in controversy as it emerged, the day after her win, that Valieva had tested positive for the illegal drug Trimetazidine (TMZ) on 25 December.
The Russian anti-doping agency (RUSADA) was notified of the positive test result on 8 February and suspended Valieva, but she successfully appealed, and the ban was lifted. The court of arbitration (CAS) rejected appeals by the International Olympic Committee, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the International Skating Union to reinstate the suspension and in the early hours of this morning (Beijing time), Valieva was given the green light by CAS to compete in the games owing to “exceptional circumstances.” She will now compete in the women’s individual figure skating competition on Tuesday, where she is a favourite to win gold.
The Valieva verdict raises important questions about whether she could be a victim of child doping, and whether Russia is continuing to assist its athletes through illegal drugs. Russia is already serving an international ban for widespread state-sponsored doping during the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, and undoubtedly, this latest furore will further chip away at Russia’s reputation in the international playing field.
Here’s what you need to know.
What is Trimetazidine, and why is it banned in sports?
Trimetazidine (TMZ) is a drug used to treat angina and other heart-related conditions. By increasing blood flow to the heart, it limits rapid swings in blood pressure. TMZ has been on the WADA list of prohibited substances since 2014 where it is categorised as a “hormone and metabolic modulator”, which is illegal for athletes to use both in and out-of-competition.
It is believed that the drug can improve physical efficiency, especially in the case of endurance sports, although opinions differ on how long-lasting the effects can be. It can also be used to reduce symptoms of vertigo, tinnitus and blurred vision. The increased blood flow to the muscles can make athletes perform better, which is why the substance is banned by the WADA.
“If you’re in a highly exertional sport, where you’re using a lot of energy, and you’re putting your heart under significant stress, it certainly could help your heart function better theoretically,” explained Dr Kelly Johnson-Arbor, a medical toxicology physician at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital to Reuters.
It’s far from the first time the drug has appeared in sport. The most high-profile case was in 2014, which involved the Chinese star swimmer and Olympic gold medallist Sun Yang. The three-time Olympic champion was banned for three years after testing positive for the drug. And then, in the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, the Russian bobsledder Nadezhda Sergeeva was disqualified two days before her race after testing positive for TMZ and served an eight-month ban.
Over the weekend, The Mail on Sunday, also revealed that the banned performance-enhancing drug was routinely administered to Russian athletes during the height of the nation’s state-sponsored doping years. Grigory Rodchenkov, the Moscow laboratory boss and whistle-blower whose testimony led to the exposure of the Russian doping scandal, said he covered up positive drug tests by Russian athletes for TMZ in the lead-up to the 2014 Sochi Winter Games, where Russia topped the medals table.
What was behind the court’s decision?
CAS cited “exceptional circumstances” for its decision, including Valieva’s status as a “protected person” which CAS defines as an athlete who has not yet turned 16 at the time of a doping violation.
The three-person panel ruled that the World Anti-Doping Code was unclear regarding suspended “protected persons” under 16 years of age and said that a 44-day delay in reporting Valieva’s positive test for TMZ had affected her ability to mount a defence.
Matthieu Reeb, secretary-general for CAS said the delay of Valieva being tested in Russia on Christmas Day and her sample being reported by a laboratory in Sweden on 8 February was “extremely unfortunate as it affects not only the athlete but the organisers of the Olympic Games.”
He told the world’s press that the panel was “concerned” that if a permanent suspension was imposed and she was later cleared or given a low sanction, it would cause “serious damage.” He concluded, “The panel considered that preventing the athlete from competing at the Olympic Games would cause her irreparable harm in these circumstances.”
What has the international reaction been to the ruling?
Critics worldwide have questioned why an athlete who has failed a drugs test is still being allowed to compete and what consequences this will have for sporting legitimacy. WADA said it was “disappointed” by the ruling, saying it “appears that the CAS panel decided not to apply the terms of the Code, which does not allow for specific exceptions to be made in relation to mandatory provisional suspensions for ‘protected persons’, including minors.”
Sarah Hirshland, the president of the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee, said she was also “disappointed” by the ruling. “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,” she said. “Athletes have the right to know they are competing on a level playing field. Unfortunately, today that right is being denied.
“This appears to be another chapter in the systemic and pervasive disregard for clean sport by Russia. We know this case is not yet closed, and we call on everyone in the Olympic Movement [an IOC-affiliated group promoting Olympian values] to continue to fight for clean sport on behalf of athletes around the world.”
The American 1998 Olympic champion figure skater Tara Lipinski has said the ruling will “leave a permanent scar on our sport.” In a tweet, she wrote:
“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.”