BEIJING (AP) 鈥� Arbitrators have rejected a last-ditch request by American figure skaters to have their silver medals awarded before the end of the Olympics.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport said early Sunday in Beijing by the nine skaters, who finished second in the team event marred by a doping positive from 15-year-old Russian Kamila Valieva.
It did not elaborate on its decision, and said it would release details in upcoming days. The panel, with arbitrators from Denmark, France and China, met for 2 1/2 hours Saturday evening.
In an earlier decision, in the women's event after her doping positive went public following the Russians' victory in the team event. The International Olympic Committee responded by saying that no medals would be awarded in any event in which Valieva finished in the top three.
Losing the case means the U.S. skaters will receive their medals months, maybe even years, from now, after Valieva's case winds its way through hearings and appeals. She led the Russians to a convincing victory in the team event. If that result is overturned, the U.S. would get gold medals.
The skaters had argued, without success, that they should at least receive the silvers before Sunday night's closing ceremony. sent to IOC President Thomas Bach that was obtained by The Associated Press, the skaters' attorney argued that the IOC鈥檚 鈥渙wn rules mandate that a victory ceremony 鈥榯o present medals to the athletes shall follow the conclusion of each sports event.鈥欌��
鈥淲e鈥檙e disappointed in the decision. It鈥檚 unfortunate that these deserving athletes will leave Beijing without their medals,鈥� said Ramsey Baker, executive director of US Figure Skating. 鈥淲e are proud of the historic accomplishments of our team and we look forward to joining them, their families and friends, and the entire United States in celebrating their achievements from these Olympic Games.鈥�
A few hours before the decision, the U.S. team of in the pairs event. They are among the skaters who would receive the medals from the team event. After they skated Saturday, Frazier said 鈥渢hey should have a ceremony for the clean athletes that delivered. They deserve that.鈥�
In the letter to Bach, attorney Paul Greene wrote 鈥渁 dignified medal ceremony from our clients鈥� vantage point is one in the Medals Plaza as originally planned and afforded to all other medalists.鈥�
Instead, the skaters In a meeting with the skaters earlier this week, Bach offered the torches as keepsakes while the doping case plays out. He later said at a news conference that they were not meant to replace the medals.
Valieva might never get anything. She finished 鈥� crying as she left the ice, then criticized by her coach after a mistake-filled long program.
After her test became public, Russia鈥檚 anti-doping agency at first put her on provisional suspension, then lifted the suspension. That triggered the IOC and World Anti-Doping Agency to lead an appeal to CAS, which acted swiftly and said Valieva could still compete. This time, CAS ruled in favor of the IOC.
Neither decision, however, resolves the larger question about the result from the team competition.
Because she is 15, Valieva is considered a 鈥減rotected person鈥� under anti-doping rules, and is not expected to receive a harsh penalty. Her coaches and doctors are being investigated by Russian and world anti-doping authorities.
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Pells reported from Zhangjiakou, China. Associated Press writers Dave Skretta and Aaron Morrison contributed to this report.
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Eddie Pells And Graham Dunbar, The Associated Press
