US to Receive Gold Medals in Wake of Figure Skater Valieva's Olympic DQ

Kamila Valieva of Russian Olympic Committee reacts after the Women's Free Skating of the Figure Skating events at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Games, Beijing, China, 17 February 2022 (reissued 29 January 2024). EPA/HOW HWEE YOUNG
Kamila Valieva of Russian Olympic Committee reacts after the Women's Free Skating of the Figure Skating events at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Games, Beijing, China, 17 February 2022 (reissued 29 January 2024). EPA/HOW HWEE YOUNG
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US to Receive Gold Medals in Wake of Figure Skater Valieva's Olympic DQ

Kamila Valieva of Russian Olympic Committee reacts after the Women's Free Skating of the Figure Skating events at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Games, Beijing, China, 17 February 2022 (reissued 29 January 2024). EPA/HOW HWEE YOUNG
Kamila Valieva of Russian Olympic Committee reacts after the Women's Free Skating of the Figure Skating events at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Games, Beijing, China, 17 February 2022 (reissued 29 January 2024). EPA/HOW HWEE YOUNG

International Olympic officials have told counterparts in the United States that their figure skating team will receive Olympic gold medals now that Russian skater Kamila Valieva has been disqualified for doping at the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing.
The US Olympic and Paralympic Committee received word Monday night that the IOC would award the gold to the US for the team competition, which was thrown into turmoil after Valieva's positive test from six weeks earlier was revealed.
The Associated Press obtained a copy of an email sent from the IOC to the USOPC saying it “is now in position to award the medals in accordance with the ranking, which has to be established by the International Skating Union” — the federation in charge of running the event at the Olympics.
The USOPC confirmed that CEO Sarah Hirshland had received the news that the Americans were declared the winners.
The IOC said it had “great sympathy with the athletes who have had to wait for two years to get the final results of their competition. The IOC will contact the respective (national Olympic committees) in order to organize a dignified Olympic medal ceremony.”
Still uncertain was how Valieva’s disqualification would affect the silver and bronze medals. Japan finished third and is likely to move to second. Depending on how a scoring rule is interpreted, Russia could still finish third — ahead of Canada — even after deducting Valieva’s points from the two events she skated in during the team event.
The Americans to receive the gold medals are Evan Bates, Karen Chen, Nathan Chen, Madison Chock, Zachary Donohue, Brandon Frazier, Madison Hubbell, Alexa Knierim and Vincent Zhou.



Napoli Passes Big Test of Serie A Leadership with 2-0 Win at AC Milan

Soccer Football - Serie A - AC Milan v Napoli - San Siro, Milan, Italy - October 29, 2024 Napoli's Khvicha Kvaratskhelia celebrates scoring their second goal REUTERS/Alessandro Garofalo
Soccer Football - Serie A - AC Milan v Napoli - San Siro, Milan, Italy - October 29, 2024 Napoli's Khvicha Kvaratskhelia celebrates scoring their second goal REUTERS/Alessandro Garofalo
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Napoli Passes Big Test of Serie A Leadership with 2-0 Win at AC Milan

Soccer Football - Serie A - AC Milan v Napoli - San Siro, Milan, Italy - October 29, 2024 Napoli's Khvicha Kvaratskhelia celebrates scoring their second goal REUTERS/Alessandro Garofalo
Soccer Football - Serie A - AC Milan v Napoli - San Siro, Milan, Italy - October 29, 2024 Napoli's Khvicha Kvaratskhelia celebrates scoring their second goal REUTERS/Alessandro Garofalo

Antonio Conte’s Napoli passed a big test of its Serie A leadership with a 2-0 win at AC Milan on Tuesday.
Romelu Lukaku and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia scored first-half goals at the San Siro and Napoli opened up a seven-point lead over defending champion Inter Milan, which visits Empoli on Wednesday, The Associated Press reported.
Lukaku muscled a defender to the ground before scoring from the center of the area early on. Then Kvaratskhelia dribbled past two defenders before launching an angled shot into the far corner before the break.
Milan center forward Alvaro Morata had a potential goal waved off for offside early in the second half.
Milan is eighth, 11 points back.
Napoli returns to the San Siro in less than two weeks to face Inter. The Partenopei have rebounded strongly after a 10th-place finish last season and are in position to earn their second title in three years.
Conte was hired in June after Napoli went through three different coaches last season.
Napoli hasn't lost since falling 3-0 at Hellas Verona in its season debut on Aug. 18.
Also, Bologna won 2-0 at Cagliari with goals from Riccardo Orsolini and Jens Odgaard; and Lecce beat nine-man Hellas Verona 1-0 with a goal from Patrick Dorgu.