Skate Canada has announced a formal appeal of the International Skating Union’s decision to award the bronze medal in the team figure skating event from the 2022 Beijing Olympics to Russia despite one of its skaters being sanctioned for doping.
Skate Canada said in a release Friday that it is making the appeal along with the Canadian Olympic Committee and the athletes from Canada's 2022 figure skating team, which finished fourth in the event.
The Russian team skated to gold in Beijing before it was revealed that skater Kamila Valieva had tested positive for a banned heart medicine in a sample obtained before the Games. The Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled Jan. 29 that Valieva would be disqualified from the games.
The ISU upgraded the United States to gold and Japan to silver following the CAS decision. But it awarded Russia the bronze rather than move Canada from fourth to third.
The ISU published amended standings from the competition that had Russia still a point ahead of Canada that removed Valieva's maximum 10 points from each of her two events but did not add an extra point to the other teams below her.
Canadian skater Maddie Schizas, who competed against Valieva in the event, said the ruling never made sense to her or her teammates.
"We were all a little confused by it," Schizas said. "It didn't make a whole a lot of sense. I don't think any of us really understood how they came to that decision."
Skate Canada said Friday it disagrees with the ISU's decision and believes an independent review will provide clarity on the matter.
"Our appeal is rooted in a commitment to fairness, transparency, and the integrity of the sport," the governing body said.
Members of the Canadian team entry in Beijing included Schizas, Piper Gilles, Paul Poirier, Kirsten Moore-Towers, Michael Marinaro, Eric Radford, Vanessa James and Roman Sadovsky, a last-minute replacement for Keegan Messing.
Schizas says she is not anticipating a rapid verdict on the appeal and is unsure whether it will yield success.
"I hope our chances are good, but if nothing else I'd like to understand why that decision was made," she said. "This appeal, if nothing else, will … provide clarity."
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 16, 2024.
The Canadian Press
