BEIJING (Reuters) – The organisers of the Paris 2024 Olympics said on Tuesday they want to make sure the doping case of Russian teenage figure skater Kamila Valieva, which has rocked the Beijing Olympics, does not cast a shadow on their own Summer Games.
“Paris 2024 is 100% committed to the fight against doping and is working in close coordination with all stakeholders to ensure the fairness of the competitions in 2024 and the protection of athletes,” they said in a statement to Reuters.
“We must use this situation (the Valieva case) to make sure that it does not happen again.
“Our top priority will be the development and execution of an effective anti-doping program that protects the rights of athletes and the integrity of competitions.”
Valieva, 15, has been cleared to further compete at the Beijing Olympics after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled in favour of the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA)’s decision to lift her provisional ban after an positive drug test that was revealed at the Games, prompting outrage from athletes and officials around the world.
(Reporting by Julien Pretot; Editing by Shri Navaratnam)
