Russian skater Kamila Valieva finishes short program in 1st place amid doping controversy

By Muhammed Enes Calli

ANKARA (AA) - Russian skater Kamila Valieva took the top spot in the women's figure skating singles short event program at the Beijing Winter Olympics on Tuesday amid a doping scandal.

Valieva, 15, finished with a score of 82.16 in her first event after The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) allowed her to compete although she failed a drug test.

Valieva, representing the Russian Olympic Committee, was cleared Monday by the CAS to participate in the Games.

The sport's top court announced a decision to lift Valieva's provisional suspension after she tested positive for a banned substance.

The CAS said Valieva is a "protected person" under the World Anti-Doping Code – in other words, a minor.

The women’s free-skating final will be held Thursday.