2022 Beijing Olympics: Russian Olympian Tests Positive for Banned Substance

Fifteen-year-old Russia's Olympian, Kamila Valieva, might be kicked out of the ongoing Winter Olympics being hosted in Beijing.

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The International Testing Agency confirmed that the Russian tested positive for a banned heart medication in December 2021. She tested positive on Tuesday, February 8th, 2022, which was a day after emerging top in the team event with the Russian Olympic Committee.

Valieva's case is rather complicated by the World Anti-Doping Agency ( WADA ) ruling which considers those under 16's protected persons, meaning the usual rule of strict liability does not necessarily apply, generally implying the athlete concerned must remain anonymous.

However, the ITA effectively claimed it had been forced to issue its clarification due to the failure of the media to adhere to that simple principle, following days of speculation that originally developed from the delay in awarding of medals for the team events.

The positive test by a WADA-accredited laboratory in Stockholm last week. The ITA confirmed that it immediately informed the athlete that the provisional suspension imposed on her by the Russian Anti-doping Agency is binding upon the IOC and the athlete in banned from training, competing, coaching or participating in any activity.