Russian skater claims heart drug found in her system may have been her grandpa's

Source: Daily Mail

Scandal-hit Olympic ice skater Kamila Valieva may have failed a doping test because of her grandfather’s heart condition and the medication he takes, it has been claimed.

The evidence was presented to the arbitration panel which heard her plea on Sunday evening and cleared the 15-year-old gold medalist to carry on in the Winter Olympics.

It is claimed that the banned drug entered the teenager's because she shared a glass of water with her grandfather who uses medication for a heart condition.

In the daily International Olympic Committee briefing, member Denis Oswald confirmed Valieva’s argument for lifting her suspension was ‘contamination which happened with a product her grandfather was taking’.

The publication Pravda reported the 15-year-old’s mother Alsu Valieva and her lawyer Anna Kozmenko made the suggestion during the skater’s Court of Arbitration for Sport hearing on Sunday.

The gold medalist, pictured February 7, claims trimetazidine found in her system may have been ingested accidentally by sharing a glass of water with her grandpa

She was cleared to continue competing at the Winter Olympics on Monday but awaits a later hearing to determine if she will be found guilty over her positive test last Christmas for the angina drug trimetazidine.

According to Pravda, it was put to CAS that Valieva’s grandfather, who reportedly has an artificial heart, may have left traces of saliva on a glass before the skating sensation subsequently drank from it.

Valieva, meanwhile, has broken her silence by saying the trimetazidine doping scandal has left her tearful and ‘emotionally fatigued’.

She will compete as the favorite in the individual figure skating on Tuesday, following a week in which she has been in the eye of an international storm.

She told Russia’s TV Channel One: ‘These days have been very difficult for me, emotionally. I am happy but emotionally fatigued.

‘That is why these tears of joy and a little bit of sadness. But, of course, I am happy to take part in the Olympic Games. I will do my utmost to represent our country.

‘Apparently, this is a stage I have to live through. I hear so many good wishes. I have seen outdoor banners in Moscow. It is very pleasing, this support is very important for me in this difficult time. I thought I was alone but my closest friends and family will never abandon me.’

Her comments follow an unsuccessful attempt by the International Olympic Committee, the World Anti-Doping Agency and the International Skating Union to convince the Court of Arbitration for Sport to impose a provisional suspension.

Valieva was instead handed a reprieve and will push for a second win at the Games after inspiring Russia to team gold.

WADA has already said an investigation will be carried out into Valieva’s entourage to establish how she came to test positive, while the IOC has said there will be no medal ceremony for the individual event if Valieva finishes in the top three.

The US has criticized the decision to allow the troubled teenager to continue competing in Beijing and said it prevents a ‘level playing field.’