Russian sports minister vows to continue providing necessary support to figure skater Valieva

MOSCOW. Feb 11 (Interfax) - The Russian Sports Ministry is following the situation regarding figure skater Kamila Valieva, the ministry's press service said.

"The Sports Ministry of the Russian Federation has all the information about the situation linked to the discovery of a prohibited substance in the doping sample collected by the Russian Anti-Doping Agency [RUSADA] from member of the Russian figure skating team Kamila Valieva," Russian Sports Minister Oleg Matytsin said.

"Information about the positive result of that doping test arrived on February 8. A crucial aspect of our anti-doping policy is the protection of clean athletes' rights, observance of the presumption of innocence principle and athletes' right to a fair examination of the case. The Sports Ministry of Russia is keeping in touch with the Russian Olympic Committee [ROC] delegation to the Winter Olympic Games in Beijing. We will continue extending all necessary support to our athlete and the Figure Skating Federation of Russia. We call on everyone to show respect toward the young figure skater and to refrain from premature comments," Matytsin said.

"Russia reaffirms its commitment to the principle of zero tolerance to any violations of anti-doping rules. An effective and transparent anti-doping control system has been created in the country," the minister said.

RUSADA collected 10,770 doping samples in 2021, which is one-quarter more than in 2020, he said. In particular, as many candidates as possible for the ROC Beijing Olympic team were tested for doping. All doping samples are sent to independent laboratories abroad.

"Our country pursues transparent contacts with all organizations as part of the fight against doping," Matytsin said.