Russian figure skater’s drug test case to be heard Sunday

A hearing to determine whether Russian teen figure skater Kamila Valieva can compete in the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing is slated for Sunday. 

The Associated Press reported that the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) will hear her doping case on Sunday and make a ruling on Monday before the women’s individual competition.

The ruling comes after Valieva won a gold medal in the team event just days ago in Beijing. 

Valieva was banned earlier this week by a Russian anti-doping agency after tested positive for the heat medication  trimetazidine on a screening performed Dec. 25.

The ban was lifted Wednesday after an appeal. 

The International Olympic Committee and the World Anti-Doping Agency have appealed the decision to lift Valieva’s suspension, and her hearing was expedited. 

The hearing will take place behind closed doors, and if she decides to attend it will be virtually, according to the AP. 

“If she attends I assume it will be by video conference,” CAS director general Matthieu Reeb said, according to the AP. “It will be a long night. It could be four or five hours.”

The three judge panel will be composed of judges from the United States, Slovenia and Italy.

Since she is a minor, is it possible for her to just be reprimanded and not suspended. Her coaches and doctors face automatic investigations over the incident.