United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Travis Tygart remarked on Monday that Russia has "hijacked the competition" and "stolen the moment from clean athletes" for the "sixth consecutive Olympic Games" at the 2022 Winter Olympics after its figure skater Kamila Valieva (pictured) was allowed to compete at the event although she tested positive for a banned performance-enhancing substance.
Speaking about the possibility of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) allowing the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) to keep its gold medal in the team category, in which Valieva participated, Tygart said that such a decision would "reveal what a farce the handling of the Russia state-sponsored doping system by the IOC has been over the last eight years."
During the ongoing Winter Olympics, it was revealed Valieva tested positive for trimetazidine, a medication banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). The IOC and several anti-doping institutions opened investigations into the case. Should the IOC's probe prove a deliberate abuse on Valieva and her entourage's part, the ROC will likely be stripped of its gold medal in the team event. Meanwhile, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) decided the 15-year-old will be allowed to compete in women's singles.