Kamila Valieva has missed out on a medal after leaving the Olympic ice in tears following two falls and a series of further errors.
The 15-year-old, who was allowed to compete despite a positive drugs test, started with a two-point lead over her compatriot Anna Shcherbakova, but a score of 141.93 saw her fall to fourth place in the final standings.
Valieva, who had shown only a few signs of pressure during her short program, struggled to maintain her composure after falling on her first triple. She left the ice in tears, and was consoled by her coach Eteri Tutberidze after the scores were announced.
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Valieva had been the focus of extraordinary attention since her positive test was revealed last Tuesday, one day after the conclusion of the team event.
Her automatic provisional suspension was lifted by the Russian Anti-Doping Agency, whose decision was effectively upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) despite an appeal led by the International Testing Agency.
A number of athletes and former athletes, including direct rivals of Valieva, had questioned her right to remain in the competition or the perceived unfairness of allowing her compete in spite of her positive sample.
The positive test came back after Valieva, who is part of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) team, claimed gold in the figure skating event on Monday (7 February).
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Experts in Sweden only reported on the sample on Tuesday (8 February), after she had claimed her medal.
After appealing, she was able to compete again and was the overwhelming favourite to win gold in the Women's Single Skating.
The International Testing Agency (ITA) tried to contest the decision to allow Valieva to return to the games.
A spokesperson for the ITA said: "Under the World Anti-Doping Code, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), the International Skating Union (ISU), RUSADA and the IOC have a right to appeal the decision to lift the provisional suspension before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
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"The IOC will exercise its right to appeal and not to wait for the reasoned decision by RUSADA, because a decision is needed before the next competition the athlete is due to take part (in Women Single Skating on 15 February).
"Following the delegation of the IOC’s anti-doping program in relation to the Olympic Games to the ITA, the ITA will lead the appeal before CAS on behalf of the IOC."
Topics: Sport, Winter Olympics
Rebecca Shepherd