Three-time Olympic champion in figure skating Irina Rodnina has stated there is little point in taking the medal redistribution dispute to the Court of Arbitration for Sport after the 2022 Olympic Games team event. Rodnina questioned the value of appealing the decision issued by the International Skating Union and wondered who funded such a lively process. She suggested that the financing could come from government sources or from sponsors, and she cautioned that pursuing CAS at this stage resembles a shot at the sky. While wishing the involved parties luck in court, she expressed doubt about the necessity of the objection.
In the dispute, objections were filed separately by the Russian Olympic Committee, the Russian Figure Skating Federation, and the Russian athletes who competed on the team. The exchanges did not halt the broader discussions around the outcomes tied to the event or the subsequent rulings that followed.
In January 2024, the Court of Arbitration for Sport issued a verdict disqualifying Kamila Valieva, who had been part of the national team at the tournament, for an anti-doping rule violation. The ruling imposed a four-year suspension beginning in December 2021 and stripped Valieva of all medals and awards earned during that period, altering the historical record related to that event.
Following the disqualification, the ISU affirmed Russia’s third-place finish in the team tournament at the 2022 Games, while not stripping the nation of the medal as a whole. Under this resolution, the United States earned the gold medal and Japan the silver, reaffirming the podium composition despite the individual athlete’s sanction. These developments prompted ongoing dialogue about the governance of the sport, the integrity of results, and the processes available to appeal decisions that affect team standings.
Earlier, commentator Tatyana Tarasova had voiced skepticism about the likelihood of a successful CAS appeal by the skaters, adding to the sense that the pursuit of relief through arbitration might face significant hurdles. This perspective underscored a broader sense of caution within the figure skating community about the potential for reversals in a high-profile, politically charged sporting dispute, particularly when doping violations and the collective vindication of a national team are involved. While opinions varied among observers and officials, the prevailing view emphasized the complexity of navigating post-event adjudication and the lasting implications for athletes who compete under intense scrutiny and public expectation.