Panel Denies US Skaters’ Enchantment to Get Olympic Silver Medals

Arbitrators have rejected a last-ditch request by American determine skaters to have their silver medals awarded earlier than the tip of the Olympics.

The Courtroom of Arbitration for Sport stated early Sunday in Beijing that it dismissed the attraction by the 9 skaters, who completed second within the workforce occasion that was marred by a doping optimistic by 15-year-old Russian Kamila Valieva.

It didn’t elaborate on its choice, and stated it might launch particulars in upcoming days.

In an earlier choice, CAS had allowed Valieva to compete within the ladies’s occasion after her doping optimistic went public following the Russians’ victory within the workforce occasion. The Worldwide Olympic Committee responded by saying that no medals can be awarded in any occasion during which Valieva completed within the high three.

Dropping the case means the U.S. skaters will obtain their medals months, perhaps even years, from now, after Valieva’s case winds its means via hearings and appeals. She led the Russians to a convincing victory within the workforce occasion. If that result’s overturned, the U.S. would get gold medals.

The skaters had argued, with out success, that they need to at the least obtain the silvers earlier than Sunday night time’s closing ceremony. In a letter despatched to IOC President Thomas Bach that was obtained by The Related Press, the skaters’ lawyer argued that the IOC’s “personal guidelines mandate {that a} victory ceremony ‘to current medals to the athletes shall comply with the conclusion of every sports activities occasion.’”

A couple of hours earlier than the choice, the U.S. workforce of Alexa Knierim and Brandon Frazier completed sixth within the pairs occasion. Afterward, Frazier stated “they need to have a ceremony for the clear athletes that delivered. They deserve that.”

Frazier and Knierim are among the many skaters who would obtain medals, although neither had been instantly concerned within the attraction as they ready for Saturday night time’s competitors.

Within the letter to Bach, lawyer Paul Greene wrote “a dignified medal ceremony from our shoppers’ vantage level is one within the Medals Plaza as initially deliberate and afforded to all different medalists.”

As a substitute, the skaters might find yourself with Olympic torches. In a gathering with the skaters earlier this week, Bach supplied the torches as keepsakes whereas the doping case performs out. He later stated at a information convention that they weren’t meant to exchange the medals.

Valieva may by no means get something.

After her check grew to become public, Russia’s anti-doping company at first put her on provisional suspension, then lifted the suspension. That triggered the IOC and World Anti-Doping Company to steer an attraction to CAS, which acted swiftly and stated Valieva might nonetheless compete.

That didn’t resolve the bigger query in regards to the outcome from the workforce competitors.

As a result of she is 15, Valieva is taken into account a “protected particular person” underneath anti-doping guidelines, and isn’t anticipated to obtain a harsh penalty. Her coaches and docs are being investigated by Russian and world anti-doping authorities.

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Pells reported from Zhangjiakow, China. Related Press writers Dave Skretta and Aaron Morrison contributed to this report.

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