Panel rejects US skaters appeal to get Olympic silver medals

By EDDIE PELLS
AP National Writer

ZHANGJIAKOU, China (AP) — 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 that it dismissed the appeal by the nine skaters, who finished second in the team event that was marred by a doping positive by Russia’s 15-year-old Kamila Valieva. In an earlier decision, CAS had allowed Valieva to compete in the women’s event after her doping positive went public. The International Olympic Committee responded by saying that no medals would be awarded in any event where she finished in the top three.