Canada will appeal the ISU decision that disqualified Valieva and gave Russia the bronze medal

Skate Canada has opted to challenge the ruling issued by the International Skating Union (ISU) regarding the allocation of medals in the figure skating team event at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, following the disqualification of Russian skater Kamila Valieva. Despite Valieva’s disqualification due to a doping violation, which resulted in the revocation of the Russian Olympic Committee’s (ROC) gold medal, the ISU decided to award the bronze medal to the Russian team. Skate Canada, the national governing body for figure skating in Canada, expressed its disagreement with the ISU’s decision and announced its intention to appeal the ruling.

The controversy stems from the ISU’s decision to uphold the ROC’s total score even after Valieva’s results were nullified. Despite Valieva’s disqualification, the ISU concluded that the ROC’s overall score remained superior to that of Canada, which finished fourth in the team event. Skate Canada emphasized the importance of upholding rules and regulations consistently and fairly in competitive figure skating, asserting that an independent review of the ISU’s decision is necessary to ensure transparency and fairness for all parties involved.

Following the ISU’s ruling, Skate Canada raised concerns regarding the application of Rule 353, which stipulates that competitors who initially placed lower than the disqualified athlete should move up in their placement. Despite this rule, the ISU’s decision to award the bronze medal to the ROC raised questions about the interpretation and implementation of competition regulations. Skate Canada believes that an independent review of the ruling will provide clarity on this matter and address any discrepancies in the application of the rules.

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The dispute over the allocation of medals in the figure skating team event has been ongoing since news of Valieva’s doping violation emerged during the Beijing Olympics. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ultimately found Valieva guilty of violating anti-doping rules, leading to her disqualification and the subsequent recalibration of medal standings by the ISU. The revised final points table published by the ISU placed the United States in the gold medal position, followed by Japan in silver, and Russia in bronze. Canada, represented by a team of talented skaters, narrowly missed out on a medal, finishing with a total score of 53 points.

Skate Canada’s decision to appeal the ISU’s ruling underscores the organization’s commitment to upholding the integrity of competitive figure skating and ensuring that decisions made by governing bodies are fair and consistent. By challenging the ISU’s decision, Skate Canada aims to seek justice for its athletes and uphold the principles of fairness and transparency in the sport. As the appeal process unfolds, the figure skating community awaits a resolution that will provide clarity on this contentious issue and uphold the values of sportsmanship and integrity in competitive athletics.