<p>The American figure skating team are still waiting for their <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/i-feel-like-a-joke-who-said-what-at-the-beijing-olympics-1083324.html" target="_blank">Beijing Olympics </a>medals over a year later and ice dancer Evan Bates said Friday that it hurt to miss an "irreplaceable" moment.</p>.<p>The United States finished second behind Russia in the team competition but no medal ceremony was held because of the <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/other-sports/fresh-twist-in-valieva-doping-scandal-after-three-substances-claim-1082138.html" target="_blank">doping scandal involving Kamila Valieva</a>.</p>.<p>The International Olympic Committee decided not to award the medals until the case involving the then 15-year-old -- who played a starring role for the Russian team -- had been investigated.</p>.<p>It was the first time in Olympic history that medals for an event were not awarded.</p>.<p>More than a year later, the matter has still not been resolved and Bates said it remained "uncharted territory for everybody".</p>.<p>"The biggest disappointment is that the moment is gone and the moment is irreplaceable," said Bates, who is currently competing with partner Madison Chock at the world championships in Japan.</p>.<p>"The fact is we left without the medals -- through no fault of our own -- but I'm really proud of Team USA and the way that we've conducted ourselves for the last 12 months."</p>.<p>Valieva dazzled as the Russian team won the competition at the Beijing Games in February last year, ahead of the US in second, Japan in third and Canada in fourth.</p>.<p>Valieva was informed the following day that she had tested positive in December for a banned substance.</p>.<p>The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled that she could still take part in the women's singles event at the Games.</p>.<p>It did not clear her of doping and US skaters were left in limbo when the IOC decided not to award medals for the team event.</p>.<p>Chock said she and Bates were competing at this week's world championships hoping to "get a nice medal here to soften that medal-shaped hole".</p>.<p>"It's certainly an unfortunate event that occurred," she said.</p>.<p>"We just hope that the process continues and we're going to be patient and know that things will work themselves out."</p>.<p>Bates said the saga had brought the US team closer together.</p>.<p>"The bond between us is actually even stronger because we've gone through this together," he said.</p>.<p>"It's kind of forged our friendship."</p>
<p>The American figure skating team are still waiting for their <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/i-feel-like-a-joke-who-said-what-at-the-beijing-olympics-1083324.html" target="_blank">Beijing Olympics </a>medals over a year later and ice dancer Evan Bates said Friday that it hurt to miss an "irreplaceable" moment.</p>.<p>The United States finished second behind Russia in the team competition but no medal ceremony was held because of the <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/other-sports/fresh-twist-in-valieva-doping-scandal-after-three-substances-claim-1082138.html" target="_blank">doping scandal involving Kamila Valieva</a>.</p>.<p>The International Olympic Committee decided not to award the medals until the case involving the then 15-year-old -- who played a starring role for the Russian team -- had been investigated.</p>.<p>It was the first time in Olympic history that medals for an event were not awarded.</p>.<p>More than a year later, the matter has still not been resolved and Bates said it remained "uncharted territory for everybody".</p>.<p>"The biggest disappointment is that the moment is gone and the moment is irreplaceable," said Bates, who is currently competing with partner Madison Chock at the world championships in Japan.</p>.<p>"The fact is we left without the medals -- through no fault of our own -- but I'm really proud of Team USA and the way that we've conducted ourselves for the last 12 months."</p>.<p>Valieva dazzled as the Russian team won the competition at the Beijing Games in February last year, ahead of the US in second, Japan in third and Canada in fourth.</p>.<p>Valieva was informed the following day that she had tested positive in December for a banned substance.</p>.<p>The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled that she could still take part in the women's singles event at the Games.</p>.<p>It did not clear her of doping and US skaters were left in limbo when the IOC decided not to award medals for the team event.</p>.<p>Chock said she and Bates were competing at this week's world championships hoping to "get a nice medal here to soften that medal-shaped hole".</p>.<p>"It's certainly an unfortunate event that occurred," she said.</p>.<p>"We just hope that the process continues and we're going to be patient and know that things will work themselves out."</p>.<p>Bates said the saga had brought the US team closer together.</p>.<p>"The bond between us is actually even stronger because we've gone through this together," he said.</p>.<p>"It's kind of forged our friendship."</p>