US Olympic team finally receive gold medals more than two years after scandal rocked their event

Teams from the 2022 Winter Olympics have been awarded their medals, two years after the event was rocked by a drug test scandal.

Team USA took the gold for the figure skating, while Japan took the silver.

Originally, the US team had placed second, with the Russian team taking the gold medal.

But scandal erupted when Russian athlete Kamila Valieva tested positive for a banned substance called Trimetazidine six weeks ahead of the competition.

The US figure skating team pose with their medals. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

The drug helps the heart use energy more efficiently, and is used in the treatment of heart disease in some countries.

However, because it can improve someone's exercise tolerance by impacting the respiratory system it is considered a performance enhancing drug.

As a result, Valieva was disqualified for doping.

In the wake of the doping scandal, the awarding of all medals was suspended while an investigation was carried out.

Now, two years later, members of Team USA and Team Japan have finally been able to get the recognition they deserve from their performances.

US athletes Nathan Chen, Vincent Zhou, Karen Chen, Alexa Knierim, Brandon Frazier, Madison Chock, Evan Bates, Madison Hubbell, and Zachary Donohue took to the podium to be awarded their medals.

The team celebrate finally receiving their medals. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

The International Olympic Committee confirmed that it “is now in position to award the medals in accordance with the ranking, which has to be established by the International Skating Union."

In an earlier statement, the IOC said: “[The ICO has] 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.”

And that's just what happened, with the athletes being given a full ceremony underneath the Eiffel Tower as the 2024 Paris Olympics go on.

The medallists were given bouquets of flowers to hold for the ceremony.

Kamila Valieva was disqualified over doping. (Sefa Karacan/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Some posed for the cameras by striking incredible figure skating poses, with the athletes Bates and Chock even appearing to shed tears when they were finally awarded their medals.

US athlete Evan Bates previously criticised how long it took to make the decision.

He told the Associated Press: “I think two years is too long for this decision to be made, and we may never know why it has taken this long.

“We’re just looking forward to getting some closure after a long waiting period.”

And now, after two years of waiting, the teams have finally got their closure.