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ZHANGJIAKOU, China — Lawyers for the U.S. figure skaters whose Olympic silver medals are withheld have informed the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that they have filed an appeal to have them awarded before the end of the Beijing Games, learned the ‘Associated Press.
In a letter sent to IOC President Thomas Bach on Saturday, a copy of which the AP obtained, the lawyers said they will ask the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to issue a decision before Sunday’s closing ceremony.
Kamila Valieva led the Russian team to victory in the team event last week, with the United States finishing second. Soon after, a positive doping test for the 15-year-old skater was revealed.
CAS allowed her to compete in the women’s event, but the IOC said it would not hold medal ceremonies in the events where she finished in the top three.
The Russians easily won the event. Japan finished third and Canada fourth.
The Americans’ letter cites the “IOC’s own rules which state that an athlete medal ceremony must follow the end of each sporting event”.
