Appeals again delay ’22 figure skating medals

Four appeals filed at sport’s highest court in fallout from the doping case of Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva are set to delay awarding medals from the 2022 Beijing Olympics yet again.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport said Monday it registered three appeals from Russia and one from Canada to challenge how the International Skating Union amended the result of the team event held two years ago in Beijing because the court disqualified Valieva one month ago.

“Given the early stage of the proceedings, no indication can be given as to when a hearing may take place, if any,” the court said in a statement.

The separate Russian appeals from the national

Olympic body, the national skating federation and the skaters, including Valieva, who were victorious teammates in Beijing ask the court to reinstate their team as gold medallists.

The single Canadian appeal seeks to get bronze medals ahead of the Russians, who the ISU downgraded to third place instead of fourth once it had

Valieva’s points removed scores.

The ISU was obliged by the binding CAS ruling on Jan. 29 to remove the Russians from first place and upgrade the United States as champions and Japan into second place.

Controversy and promises of further appeals to CAS followed the skating body’s interpretation of its own competition rules. The ISU removed Valieva’s points — a maximum 10 for her team in each of the short program and free skate — but did not add a point to the tally of other teams who subsequently rose in the event standings.

The ISU’S reordering of team points totals left fourth-place Canada one point behind the Russians. The Canadians believe they should be one point ahead in third place with extra scores added to take account of Valieva’s removal.