Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva tested positive for a banned drug

Russia’s Kamila Valieva competes in the women’s free skating event at the Rostelecom Cup 2021 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating in Sochi on November 27, 2021. (Photo by Dimitar DILKOFF / AFP)

Gerbangindonesia.org — Russian media revealed Wednesday that 15-year-old professional skater Kamila Valieva had tested positive for a restricted medication, after the function to present her and her teammates with their Olympic gold medals was postponed for unexplained legitimate reasons.

Newspapers RBC and Kommersant named the medication as trimetazidine, which is ordinarily used to treat chest torment.

The news broke late around evening time in Beijing, where Valieva was part of the Russian Olympic Committee ensemble that won the figure skating crew event Monday in front of the United States and Japan.

Reuters endeavored to arrive at the ROC culinary expert de mission for input, but his telephone was not answered. The ROC prior declined to remark on reports that Valieva had returned a positive test.

The teenager conveyed one of the highlights of the Beijing Games so far when she handled the first fourfold jumps by a lady in Olympic competition. She was one of four ROC skaters who didn’t show up at their training sessions Wednesday.

Figure skating is a prestige sport for Russia, one in which it has an outstanding record at Olympic and big showdowns. Any transition to punish Valieva or strip the group of its medals would probably cause a public objection.

Unmistakable journalist Vasily Konov, appointee general maker at Russian sports channel Match-TV, said without citing sources that the sample in question had been required two months ago.

“The medication trimetazidine does not help a competitor at all. By any stretch of the imagination. It was found in one single sample in December. A minuscule sum. Nothing in her samples previously or since,” he composed on social media.

“There is no doping in the traditional sense. No! This heart drug has no effect on … execution. Presently leave Kamila in harmony.”

Previous Russian pairs skater Tatiana Volosozhar, who won two gold medals at the 2014 Sochi Olympics, showed solidarity with Valieva on social media, requiring the use of the Russian hashtag #Iwillneverbelieve to send the teenager support.

Her post was “liked” on Instagram by Valieva herself.

Trimetazidine, or TMZ, works by increasing blood stream to the heart and limiting quick swings in pulse. The medication is not endorsed for use in the United States. It has been on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) list of prohibited substances since 2014.

Dr. Sadiya Khan, a cardiologist and assistant professor at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, said that in principle such a medication may be used in a solid person to improve blood stream far in excess of ordinary levels.

“The idea behind it would be possibly if you upgrade blood stream, you could work on somebody’s ability to exercise longer or exercise more productively by permitting the heart to respond super-ordinarily,” Khan said in a phone interview.

But using any drug in a way for which it is not intended could have negative side effects, even if those risks are not known. “I figure it could be extremely dangerous,” she said.

The other proviso, she said, is that it is not satisfactory that it offers any presentation upgrading benefit.

“There’s a hypothetical benefit,” she said. “There’s no strong proof that it does have an effect.”

The case is further complicated by the fact that Valieva is only 15.

As per WADA’s reality against doping code, athletes who commit doping violations should be openly named, but this is not needed if the person concerned is a minor younger than 18.

In that case, as per Rule 14.3.7, any discretionary public disclosure “shall be proportionate to the facts and circumstances of the case.”

Prior Wednesday, the International Olympic Committee said a requirement for “lawful consultation” had constrained the postponement of the award service for the figure skating crew event won by the Russians.

“You can have absolutely no doubt we are doing everything [so] that this situation can be resolved as soon as possible. I can’t give you additional details, but we will do our utmost,” IOC spokesperson Mark Adams said.

The IOC, International Skating Union and the worldwide office accountable for drugs testing during the Games generally declined to remark on media reports that the deferral was caused by a positive medication test.

The Russian Sports Ministry said it was untimely to remark on media reports about the reason for the postponement.

Russia has acknowledged some shortcomings in its execution of against doping rules but denies running a state-sponsored doping program. Its athletes are contending at the Beijing Games without their banner and public song of devotion because of sanctions against Russia for previous violations.