BEIJING — The International Olympic Committee said that “in the interest of fairness to all athletes,” there will be no medal ceremony if Russian teenager Kamila Valieva places in the top three in the women’s individual figure skating competition.
The IOC says it will “organize dignified medal ceremonies once the case of Ms. Valieva has been concluded.”
Valieva was cleared to compete in the event despite failing a pre-Games drug test, setting her up for an attempt at a second gold medal in Beijing.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport released its ruling less than 12 hours after a hastily arranged hearing that lasted into early Monday morning. It determined that the 15-year-old Valieva, the favorite for the women’s individual gold, does not need to be provisionally suspended ahead of a full investigation. The court gave her a favorable decision in part because she was a minor or…
