Russian skater Kamila Valieva finishes short program in 1st place amid doping controversy
- Women’s free-skating final to be held Thursday
By Muhammed Enes Calli
ANKARA (AA) - Russian skater Kamila Valieva took the top spot in the women's figure skating singles short event program at the Beijing Winter Olympics on Tuesday amid a doping scandal.
Valieva, 15, finished with a score of 82.16 in her first event after The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) allowed her to compete although she failed a drug test.
Valieva, representing the Russian Olympic Committee, was cleared Monday by the CAS to participate in the Games.
The sport's top court announced a decision to lift Valieva's provisional suspension after she tested positive for a banned substance.
The CAS said Valieva is a "protected person" under the World Anti-Doping Code – in other words, a minor.
The women’s free-skating final will be held Thursday.
