The Court of Arbitration for Sport announced Friday that a verdict in the Kamila Valieva doping case is expected by January.
A positive test for a banned heart medication came to light a day after then-15-year-old Valieva helped Russia win team figure skating gold at the 2022 Beijing Olympics. The medals for that event were never handed out. If Valieva is disqualified, the U.S.'s silver will be upgraded to gold, Japan's bronze to silver, and Canada's fourth place to bronze.
Controversially and under intense scrutiny, Valieva was allowed to compete in the women's event and finished fourth after several mistakes in her free program.
"The parties have been informed that the CAS Panel in charge of the matter will now deliberate and prepare the Arbitral Award containing its decision and grounds which is expected to be notified to the parties by the end of January 2024," the CAS said in a statement after five days of appeal proceedings, three in September and two this week, in which Valieva testified by video.
Valieva's defense is that the positive test for trimetazadine, which is used to increase blood flow and endurance, was a result of contamination from her grandfather's medication. A Russian tribunal found Valieva not at fault and the World Anti-Doping Agency and International Skating Union subsequently appealed to the CAS, requesting a ban through 2025.
Valieva has not skated internationally since 2022 as the ISU banned Russian skaters from competition after the invasion of Ukraine.
"The hearings are long, running six hours yesterday, but we really hope everything will end today. Like all other participants in these proceedings, we are expecting a fair ruling by the court," Russia's anti-doping agency said in a statement.
