BEJING, Feb 11Sports lawyer Artem Patsev said that in the situation around the positive result of the doping test of Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva, there are chances for a positive outcome of the case. Earlier on Friday, the International Testing Agency (ITA) reported that Valieva’s doping test of December 25 gave result for trimetazidine, it was handed over by the anti-doping laboratory in Stockholm on February 8th. The Russian Anti-Doping Agency imposed a temporary suspension on Valiyeva, after the athlete's appeal on February 9, it was removed. At the moment, Valieva is allowed to continue participating in the Olympics. «The approach to minors is, of course, softer — both in terms of evidence and standards of proof, but age in itself is not an absolute indulgence from any accusations of violating anti-doping rules. It is clear that the attitude is more condescending and calm in terms of sanctions, but, I repeat, a slight reduction in sanctions in this case will not help in any way, because the basic sanction for this drug is four years, and our country, let me remind you, needs to ensure that it does not exceed one month And ideally, of course, to do without sanctions at all, so that the complete absence of guilt or negligence of the athlete is recorded,» said Patsev. experience specifically in trimetazedine and in high-level athletes: with the same (bobsledder Nadezhda) Sergeeva, with the track and field athlete Elena Sedova, who we managed to defend the back in the case with this drug, and she generally did without sanctions. There are positive examples in this case, again, given the age of the athlete, her lifestyle, her coaches, and so on. You can find evidence that she had nowhere to get this drug and there was no point in taking it, except for the option that it could only get into her body through some kind of contamination. I would still be cautiously optimistic,» the lawyer said. The ITA reported that the International Olympic Committee would protest RUSADA's decision to lift the suspension, the case would be considered by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
