The World Anti-Doping Agency filed a brief in the Valieva
case stating that the mention on the form of L-carnitine and Hypoxen, though
both legal, undercuts the argument that a banned substance, trimetazidine,
might have entered the skater’s system accidentally.
Hypoxen, a drug designed to increase oxygen flow to the
heart, was a substance the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency recently tried, without
success, to get placed on the banned list. L-carnitine, another oxygen-boosting
performance enhancer, is banned if injected above certain thresholds. The
supplement was the focal point of the doping case involving track coach Alberto
Salazar.
Combining those with 2.1 nanograms of the heart medicine
trimetazidine, the drug found in Valieva’s system after a Dec. 25 test, is “an
indication that something more serious is going on,” USADA CEO Travis Tygart
said.
“You use all of that to increase performance,” he said. “It
totally undermines the credibility” of Valieva’s defense.
Two people with knowledge of the case told The Associated
Press that a brief seen by the AP that was filed by the World Anti-Doping
Agency in a hearing on Valieva’s case was authentic. The people spoke on
condition of anonymity because the document was not publicly available. WADA
did not immediately respond to an email left by the AP asking for comment on
the brief.
The brief describes Valieva’s mother as arguing that the
skater’s grandfather was a regular user of trimetazidine, which would explain
how it got into her system. But WADA said that explanation was not enough to
clear her of a doping violation.
The brief also says Valieva’s mother testified that her
daughter used Hypoxen to treat “heart variations.”
Valieva’s positive test came to light after she had led the
Russians to a gold medal in the team skating event last week. Russia’s
anti-doping agency at first suspended her, then lifted the suspension. That led
WADA and the IOC to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which
determined Valieva could skate in the women’s event that began Tuesday.
Because she is 15, she is considered a “protected person”
under anti-doping rules and could escape major sanctions. Her coaches and other
members of her entourage are subject to automatic investigation and bigger
penalties.
The larger case involving the positive test, and resolving
whether Russia will get its gold medal, will be decided later. In the meantime,
the IOC has said there will be no medal ceremony for events in which Valieva
makes the podium. She’s a favorite for gold, and was leading after the short
program.
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