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Decision Reached in Kamila Valieva Doping Case; Kamila Valieva Allowed to Continue Olympics Competition; U.S. Reports "Acceleration" in Russian Troop Buildup. Aired 1-2a ET
Aired February 14, 2022 - 01:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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JOHN VAUSE, CNN ANCHOR: Ahead on CNN, 48 hours to stop a war, the German Chancellor traveling to Kyiv and Moscow, the latest world leader to try and prevent a Russian invasion of Ukraine, which intelligence reports indicate could be just days away.
As a testing positive for banned substance at the Winter Olympics, the fate of Russian figure skater, Kamila Valieva being decided at this hour behind closed doors at a Beijing Hotel. We're waiting on that announcement.
And on the seventh day, police finally move in clearing the major crossing point between Canada and the U.S., arresting protesters opposed to pandemic restrictions.
ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN Center, this is CNN Newsroom with John Vause.
VAUSE: Welcome to our viewers here in the United States and around the world. Thank you for being with us as we wait to hear the ruling from the Court of Arbitration for Sport on the future a 15-year-old Russian Olympic skater Kamila Valieva. She tested positive for banned heart drug in December. It came to light just last week after she'd already won a gold medal as part of a team event.
A news conference in Beijing is expected at any moment. Reporters have actually gathered in that room they will officials will make that announcement as expected at any moment. You'll see it here on CNN when it does. As we wait for that, let's go to CNN Beijing Bureau, Bureau Chief Steven Jiang, who has been following the story from the very beginning. So, we act -- we have officials arrived now. So, we may have to jump out of that any moments, Steven, and go to the news conference. But as we wait, just tell us what are we expecting to hear?
STEVEN JIANG, CNN SENIOR PRODUCER: Well, the IOC actually just clarified a few key points about this case, this decision you're about to hear is going to be very narrowly focused, it's about --
VAUSE: Steven, I'm sorry. We have to cut in, sorry Steven. Let's go to the news conference right now.
MATTHIEU REEB, DIRECTOR GENERAL, COURT OF ARBITRATION FOR SPORT: The Court of Arbitration for sports, actually, the ad hoc division of the court has issued its decision in the procedures relating to the figure skater Kamila Valieva. The CAS panel in short of this matter, has decided to let Ms. Valieva continue her participation in the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022. It means that no provisional suspension should be imposed on the skater. The CAS panel has given its reasons for this decision, we'll try to summarize them. First, it has affirmed its jurisdiction and the jurisdiction of the CAS Ad Hoc Division and has overruled a preliminary objection raised by the athlete and the Russian Olympic Committee in this regard.
Then, the guest panel is well aware of the rule on mandatory provision suspensions but has determined that the athlete should benefit from the following exceptional circumstances. First, the athlete is under 16 and is a protected person under the world anti-doping code. The Anti-Doping Rules of RUSADA and the world anti-doping code are silent with respect to provisional suspension imposed on protected persons.
Why these rules have specific provisions for evidence for different standards of evidence and for lower sanctions in case of protected persons. The panel was therefore concerned that if a permanent (ph) suspension would be imposed on the athlete, and later, at the end of the day, after the completion of all procedures, she would not be sanctioned, would have a lower or very low sanction, the permanent suspension would have caused serious damage.
The panel considered fundamental principles of fairness, irreparable harm and the relative balance of interest as between the applicants and the athlete who did not test positive during the Olympic Games in Beijing but is still subject to a disciplinary procedure on the merits following her positive anti-doping test, undergoing in December 2021. In particular, the panel considered that preventing the athlete to compete at the Olympic Games would cause her irreparable harm in these circumstances.
The CAS panel also emphasized that there were serious issues of untimely notification of the results of the athletes anti-doping test performed in December 2021. That impinged upon the athletes ability to establish certain legal requirements for her benefits why such late notification was not her foot in the middle of the Olympic Games.
[01:05:11]
The late notification is extremely unfortunate, as it affects not only the athlete, but also the organizers of the Olympic Winter Games. In other words, we would not have this case and I would not be here if these anti-doping test procedures would have been completed in one week or 10 days as it is generally the case, for example, at the Olympic Games.
The CAS Ad Hoc Division was requested to determine the narrow issue as to whether a provisional suspension should be imposed on the athlete. But it was neither requested to rule on the merits of this case, nor to examine the legal consequences related to the results of a team event in the figure skating, as such issues will be examined in other proceedings, and not necessarily upcast.
A quick final word, this decision has been rendered by three arbitrators specialized in sports law, working outside any kind of pressure or influence. Although they do have a specific nationality, these three human beings operate under one flag, the flag of the Court of Arbitration for Sport. This concludes my report. Thank you very much for your attention.
VAUSE: I guess there'll be no questions then. We just heard the decision from the Court of Arbitration for Sport that Kamila Valieva will continue to compete at this year's Winter Olympics.
Let's go back now, we have Steven Jiang standing by live for us in Beijing. Also, Patrick Snell, World Sports. Patrick Snell, who is standing by also but let's just start with Steven because OK, so they talk specifically about whether or not this provisional suspension should stay in place, whether or not she should actually be not allowed to continue to compete. And they listed a whole bunch of reasons, but the fact that she was under 16, and a protected person seemed to play a big part in this decision.
JIANG: That's right. Age is a factor even before this ruling was announced that we have taught, we have been hearing from experts that age is a factor here because, you know, she is a minor. So, the -- that's why there's a separate investigation going on, regarding her entourage. And also, as the -- you have just heard, because she's a minor, any potential sanctions she may face from that separate investigation on her case may be reduced, or maybe she will not face any permanent punishment at all. So, because of that this three-person panel says it's just unfair to impose that temporary ban on her now, and this, of course, is a very narrowly focused decision, as the panel just emphasized as the IOC just said, it's not really drawing any conclusion now whether or not she has committed a doping offence.
And also, as you have just heard, they're also not ruling out what will happen to the Russians gold medal from that team event last Monday, just one day before her positive test result returned. But it seems to me that the panel has been really exciting with the Russian authorities on a lot of their arguments, including, for example, Valieva has been passing her doping tests after that December 25 day, that was when that positive sample was collected. And she has been testing negative since she arrived here in Beijing for the Winter Games.
And also, they said, of course, the circumstances surrounding that positive test result that is how unusually long it took the lab in Sweden to return this result is also a consideration because that is obviously not giving the athletes and the organizers the other people involved a lot of time to prepare their legal defense. So, all these factors take into consideration the panel says for now, they decided to let her continue compete in the Winter Olympics. And according to the IOC, that said earlier, if she wins on Tuesday, she could conceivably even get a new medal. And but as they have also said if that separate, more thorough process finds her guilty of doping later, that medal could still be revoked. So even with this decision being announced by the CAS, there's still a lot of uncertainty surrounding for future. John.
VAUSE: For our viewers, if you're just joining us right now, there has been a decision made in this doping case of the Russian ice skater Kamila Valieva, she will be allowed to continue to compete at the Winter Olympics. A decision on the gold medal that she has already won will be made at a later date and another inquiry. Now, Patrick, to you, does it sound as if she's got off easy in all of this, at least at this point?
PATRICK SNELL, CNN WORLD SPORT: John, it's an extraordinary story, isn't it? You know, we're watching this one very closely. Indeed, this Monday. Let's not forget the age here, Steven has been referencing just 15 years of age. You know, I think this is the question for me, John, when we come back to reflect on the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, how will we conclude, how will history come to judge this particular set of games, it's quite extraordinary what's happened particularly when you take into account Russia's history of state sponsored doping, the allegations going back to the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, when Russia hosted in that year. Russia denying those allegations there, then worldwide ban that follow. That's why athletes who are rushing competing at these games have to do so under another name, not under the guise of Russia. But I think, you know, just to put it from an athletes perspective now, what's it going to be like for her competing, moving forward?
[01:10:36]
The cloud over the games, but how a tool will she be able to focus with this hanging over her? What impact will it have on her performance because no one denies her ability at the very highest level, when it comes to the fine echelons of her sport. And this is one, this is one that I've been thinking about, how John, will other competitors react to her. We've seen instances of visit the summer games over the years, when you think of swimming events, how will competitors be reacting to, how we'll look, there's limited fans in the stands. They're watching these games. What sort of reaction will we get from them? It's all going to be fascinating to see how this plays out. We're watching developments very, very closely indeed this Monday to see how this pans out. We want more questions answered. There's no question about it. But no doubt these games are tainted. No question, John, back to you.
VAUSE: Just to touch on something you raise, Patrick, because this is the interesting point. She rose to the top of the sport, what -- just a few months ago, she's been the darling of, you know, the figure skating world. She's been faded everywhere she's gone. She's been seen as a phenomenal (inaudible). Well, I can never say that word. It is quite a dramatic fall if you like from those highs just a week ago. SNELL: Yeah, yeah, exactly. When, you know, we learned a lot about this, didn't we in the coming days? You know, that positive test that was last year, wasn't it? And on Christmas Day, in fact, it was December the 25th. And has been in the spotlight. You know, she hit global attention when she won that first gold medal. And as Steven was saying earlier, not impossible, she adds to her medal account as well moving forward. But look, yeah, when you -- when you factor in the history of the country, this is what I think is so much in play here, Russia's history of state sponsored doping, going back to 2014, all those allegations that came around the worldwide bound, the Russian denial as well, 15 years of age, the eyes of the world upon her. And now we know, John, this is highly significant. The fact that her entourage, the adults around her are going to be scrutinized by WADA, the World Anti-Doping Agency as well, investigations there, there is so much more to come on all of this.
VAUSE: And Steven to you, so what happens next for Kamila Valieva, does she -- she obviously to compete in the -- or to continue to compete, as I'm trying to say, in these Winter Olympics. But one of these other investigations begin into, you know, the gold medal, when we could those teams who actually competed against the Russians, when will they know what they will start the game (ph)?
JIANG: That is a very good question. I think the separate process, the more thorough process has already started according to our understanding, but it's going to take much longer to complete. That's why this uncertainty over that now, suspended or delayed medal ceremony will really cast a shadow not only on the Russian team, but other teams that won the medal including the U.S. that won the silver, we were talking to Nathan Chen, who was part of Team USA, he said actually, the medal ceremony has always been such a special part of the Olympics. So not being able to have that moment to share with his team is actually, you know, a big regret will be potentially a big regret. That's why the IOC itself says this is not a very satisfying result or outcome. They wanted to have everything, all the issue is resolved once and for all. But obviously they simply couldn't get everybody on board for that to happen. As if now, as you also heard the announcement just now the panel, the CAS people are trying to very much stress their independence and fairness because they know no matter how they rule, they're going to upset some people or many people. John.
VAUSE: Someone is always upset somewhere. Patrick and Steven, thank you both. We're going to stay with this story for a little longer. Christine Brennan, CNN Sports Analyst is also in Beijing. She joins us now for more on this. Hey, Christine, it's great to see you. I'm just wondering your take on this decision. Is it -- does it sound fair to you? It was a leniency here. How do you see it?
CHRISTINE BRENNAN, CNN SPORT ANALYST: Hey, John, great to talk with you. We just came out of the press conference room where the decision was announced. It was a sympathetic decision. It was the decision looking out for a 15-year-old, a protected athlete as the rule say if this -- if she were older than -- if she were older than 16, if she were not a minor, they probably would have ruled differently. I mean, that's certainly one takeaway, but because of Kamila Valieva also being young and also because -- and this is interesting, we hadn't talked about this and all these few days of conversation because the test that she took was Christmas Day, December 25. And didn't get the result until during the Olympics, February, what CAS was saying, the Court of Arbitration for Sport was saying she didn't have enough time to monitor defense.
[01:15:20]
So, while we're looking at it is Russian incompetence, or WADA incompetence, or maybe some kind of crazy stuff going on and uncertainty going on, they looked at it as the athlete not having an opportunity to defend herself. And I think that's an important distinction. This does not mean by the way that at the end of the day, in 6, 8, 10 months, whenever that Valieva, should she win the gold in the women's competition as she's favorite to do, John, it does not mean she'll keep that gold medal.
What this means is kind of, I guess, kicking the can down the road. In other words, a bigger, more important case will be coming in front of the Court of Arbitration for Sport, no time for it between now and the women's short program on Tuesday night here in Beijing. But that case will be about the merits of the case. So, look at the testing sample, the look at why the delay, and it will look at everything, and that anything could happen there. We've seen gold medals taken away from athletes for all kinds of doping violations, London Olympics, Beijing Olympics, Rio Olympics, and that could happen here. But the bottom line is right now, she's competing. She'll be in the short program, the long program, she's expected to win. And it means that we have got a story unlike any other, John, for another five or six days at these Olympic Games.
VAUSE: Oh, it never ends. I'm going to put you on the spot as I often do. So, apologies in advance. But we talked about this heart drug that she was actually found to have taken. It's normally treated conditions, but it also gives athletes advantage at high altitude like Beijing in the Winter Olympics. When you talk about not given a chance to mount a defense, is there ever a defense for taking this kind of medication for an Olympian?
BRENNAN: No, there's never a defense for this. This is a very significant drug, the strongest ban in the United States. This is a drug that is as you said, it's hard medication. It's used to treat angina. Valieva is 15 years old. You know, but you can leave it to people figure out if she has angina or not. It's a cousin of the drug that Maria Sharapova took, and she was banned from tennis, for taking that drug. And it's that Sharapova's drug was the same one that Soviet soldiers were using to stay awake and alert during the Afghan war, a generation or two ago. So that's where we are.
You're asking me, you put me on the spot, I would have said she should not be competing here, total sympathy to the 15-year-old. It's the adults in her life who did this, the adults should be looked at and they will be looked at her coach and others her team around her because, you know she's not making these decisions. The adults are, John. So, for me, I think this is a terrible black mark on the Olympic Games. A woman who had, even though, she's 15. And we're very sympathetic, a woman who had a positive drug test less than two months ago, we'll be competing in the women's competition and likely winning the women's competition. What a disastrous PR nightmare of a headline that is.
VAUSE: Yeah, we think that all the other athletes who spent those days and months training to get to where they are without doping. Yeah, it seems very unfair. Christine, thank you. It's always good to have you with us. We really appreciate it.
BRENNAN: Thank you, John. Thank you.
VAUSE: Thank you. Now, we'll take a short break here. You're watching CNN. We'll be back in a moment.
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VAUSE: Russian invasion of Ukraine appears to be inching closer by the hours. Officials in the West say a diplomatic solution is still possible. German Chancellor will be the latest European leader heading to Kyiv and Moscow to try and end this crisis and avoid a war. He is expected to touch down in Kyiv in the coming hours.
Meantime, U.S. President Joe Biden held another call with Ukraine's president on Sunday, vowing the U.S. will act swiftly and decisively in response to aggression from Moscow. But the Kremlin is showing no signs of backing down. Russia has Ukraine surrounded on land and by sea. And a top Pentagon official says the drumbeat of war is growing louder.
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JOHN KIRBY, PENTAGON PRESS SECRETARY: We have good sources of intelligence and they're telling us that, you know, that things are sort of building now to some sort of crescendo opportunity for Mr. Putin.
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VAUSE: Multiple countries including the U.S., Britain, Germany, France and Australia have ordered evacuations at their embassies advise their citizens to either leave or hunker down and prepare for war. The U.S. and NATO continue to send weapons and supplies to Ukraine, with 180 tons of U.S. ammunition arriving over the weekend. But President Biden says there is one thing the U.S. will not do. If Russia -- if the Russian invasion begins.
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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What scenarios would you put American troops to rescue and get Americans out?
JOE BIDEN, (D) U.S. PRESIDENT: There's not. That's a World War when Americans and Russia start shooting at one another. We're in a very different world than we've ever been. (END VIDEO CLIP)
VAUSE: CNN's Alex Marquardt is in eastern Ukraine with details on the phone call between the U.S. and Ukrainian presidents.
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ALEX MARQUARDT, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: When Presidents Zelensky and Biden spoke on Sunday, the Ukrainian President made a significant ask of his American counterpart suggesting that he come to the Ukrainian Capitol as soon as possible to help calm the situation down. We are told by U.S. officials that that is extremely unlikely. But this is what President Zelensky's office said that he told President Biden. "I'm convinced that your arrival in Kyiv in the coming days which are crucial for stabilizing the situation will be a powerful signal and contribute to de-escalation."
Now that is a near impossibility because right now the U.S. is trying to get as many of its citizens out as possible. It is removing non- essential personnel from the embassy. It is moving other core diplomats to other parts of the country and asking Americans to leave Ukraine as soon as possible.
Now, on this call, we are also told by a senior Ukrainian official who spoke with our colleague Matthew Chance that Ukraine also asked for more financial aid and more military aid. We have been hearing from Ukrainian military officials that despite the tons of military assistance that have come in from the U.S. and other countries over the course of the past few days that they are still in need of more sophisticated weaponry, in particular, anti-aircraft weaponry that could be used against Russian helicopters and fighter jets.
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And this all highlights the careful line that President Zelensky has been walking in agreeing with the U.S. assessment that there is a significant threat coming from Russia, but at the same time downplaying that threat in order to not cause panic in his population and prevent chaos. And we saw that on full display on Saturday when President Zelensky was visiting Ukrainian military exercises. And in speaking of the new U.S. intelligence that talked about Russia, potentially invading Ukraine in the coming days, President Zelensky said that he still needs to analyze that information and that he has other information. So, there's difference in tone from Ukraine and from the U.S. continues amid this growing threat from Russia. Alex Marquardt, CNN (inaudible), Ukraine.
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VAUSE: Russia's military buildup has been compared to troop movements during the height of the Cold War, when NATO and U.S. intelligence officials would pour the images taken by satellites and spy planes, but as CNN's Scott McLean reports these days, social media can reveal a lot about what the Kremlin plans to do next.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) SCOTT MCLEAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This is just one element of the Russian arm are now gathered on three sides of the border with Ukraine, tanks and infantry fighting vehicles parked up near Ukraine's Northeastern border, or the Russian town of Valuyki. These videos posted on social media confirmed from different angles and geolocated by CNN.
The Russian buildup includes heavy armor including elements of the elite first Guards Tank Army that is now moved to within 20 miles of Ukraine also on the move a substantial number of short-range ballistic missiles known as Iskander, with a range of some 450 kilometers further south long columns of military vehicles rumble along a highway near Rostov-on-Don. A CNN analysis of Russian movement shows the extent of the buildup in Crimea to the east and north of Ukraine. And in Belarus, the Russians have released video of the large-scale exercises being conducted with Belarusian forces exercises that include top line Russian hardware, among the equipment being paraded S400 air defense systems and SU25 ground attack aircraft.
Those exercises are extensive, according to NATO, the largest Russian military presence in Belarus since the fall of the Berlin Wall. But CNN has also geolocated Russian military movements a long way from those exercises in the far southeast of Belarus, and just over 10 miles from the border with Ukraine. This convoy including multiple rocket systems headed south in the last couple of days. A long way south the Russian Navy has begun drills involving more than 30 ships in the Black Sea. They're exercising in the Black Sea a mix of forces that include several large amphibious ships. The latest satellite imagery also shows a buildup of troop accommodation and units close to the Black Sea in Crimea.
Altogether, the analysis of social media videos from Russia when added to fresh satellite imagery shows a relentless buildup of forces that seems almost complete, as we're bases are emptied and units take to the roads and rails.
JAKE SULLIVAN, U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: What we've seen just in the last 10 days or so, is an acceleration of that buildup and the movement of Russian forces of all varieties closer to the border with Ukraine in a position where they could launch a military action very, very rapidly.
MCLEAN: To Rob Lee in the Department of War Studies at the University of London, Russia's current military buildup near Ukraine is unprecedented. This is not like previous war scares or the build-up in the spring of 2021. The amount of Russian aerial ground and Naval Military power near Ukraine now is quantifiably far greater. That's the view of Western governments to the capabilities have been assembled, the Kremlin's intent is still unknown. Scott McLean, CNN, London.
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VAUSE: Well, enough is enough. Coming up on CNN Newsroom after seven days of protests on the main crossing between Canada and the U.S. Canadian police finally move in arresting demonstrators opposed to pandemic restrictions and clearing the Ambassador Bridge.
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JOHN VAUSE, CNN ANCHOR: Coming up to 33 minutes past the hour. Welcome back everyone.
A seven-day long protest and occupation at North America's busiest border crossing is now over. A short time ago, officials in Detroit announced the Ambassador Bridge connecting Canada and the U.S. is now fully reopened.
Earlier on Saturday, Canadian police began to crackdown on protesters opposed to pandemic restrictions. Dozens were arrested, vehicles were seized.
And CNN's Miguel Marquez was there.
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MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): the main protest that took place here in front of the Ambassador Bridge is cleared. Police here in Windsor say that they made 25 to 30 arrests. Those individuals charged with criminal mischief.
A few cars were towed, but amazingly, nobody was injured. There weren't any sort of police officers or protesters that were injured throughout this entire ordeal. It was a -- it was a lesson in patience on the part of police agencies that responded to these protests.
Police now dealing with the ongoing issue of keeping that bridge open. That is their first priority, and their ongoing priority now. It's a very long stretch, about a three-mile stretch of surface streets from the bridge here in Canada to the main transportation corridor Highway 401, that they will have to secure.
That is what police are doing now. Trying to figure out how they can secure that area, all those, side streets that lead on to that surface street and keep protesters from blocking traffic in that area and on the bridge itself in the days ahead. They also have to coordinate with the U.S. and the state of Michigan to make sure that all the pieces of this massive puzzle come back together.
Back to you.
VAUSE: Miguel, thank you.
Live to Toronto now and Carmen Celestini with the Disinformation Project at Simon Fraser University. She spent years studying the narratives and the conspiracy theories of far-right groups in Canada.
Thank you for being with us.
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CARMEN CELESTINI, DISINFORMATION PROJECT, SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY: Thank you for inviting me.
VAUSE: Ok. So there have been other protests before against mandates and masks and lockdowns and don't tread on me. They've come and gone, but the success of the trucker protest at shutting down cities it's being amplified by these cheerleaders, especially in right-wing television.
Listen to this. Here is Fox News.
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SEAN HANNITY, FOX NEWS HOST: Canada's Freedom Convoy is still going strong tonight and it's spreading all over the world.
TUCKER CARLSON, FOX NEWS HOST: How long before protests like this come here?
LAURA INGRAHAM, FOX NEWS HOST: Will we need our own trucker rally to end all of this insanity once and for all?
BILL HEMMER, FOX NEWS ANCHOR: Is the trucker convoy coming to America?
OAN HOST: Look at that, folks. The fight for freedom continues up in Canada.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VAUSE: Yes, the fight for freedom. Is the (INAUDIBLE) of the message of the protesters, or was it the effectiveness of the strategy? The appeal of this (INAUDIBLE)? A blueprint on how to shut down a city?
CELESTINI: Well, it's really a social mobilization.
So when we think about the word "freedom", everyone has their own articulation of that word. And we have our own idea that we want to articulate with that. It is something that can resonate with you to help you motivate to go out, and actually, participate in convoys or protests such as this.
This one is really long-standing, because we have been in lockdown for so long. And everyone's social group has been on social media.
And so the articulation of these ideas of freedom and lack of freedom because of the mandates in Canada has really been resonating with people on being attached to conspiracy theories and ideas of that general government and a great reset.
It is really motivating people to be heroes, to save Canada, and to save our nation from their interpretation of change.
VAUSE: It's interesting you bring up some of the motivation here to some of these protest. I want you to listen to what some of the protests are saying about why they have occupied Ottawa.
Here they are.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Ending all mandates. You know, it has been two years of this stuff. Evidently, it's not working. We all need to get back to normal.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Our freedoms are at stake here, and they are treating us like something we are not, basically. We're, you know, just trying to do our part. We understand the economy has, you know, come to a halt.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VAUSE: Ok. So let's start with those Canadian mandates that aren't working. The COVID death rate in Romania, which has low vaccination numbers, and no real national response, no mandates, is more than three times higher than Canada per 100,000 people.
As to the economy at a standstill? Canadian government forecast moving into 2022, economic activity will likely remain robust, above trend growth, expected to lower the unemployment rate further.
You know, I guess, you know, fact and reality doesn't really matter so much. Is there a common thread to these anti-government protest groups who joined into this thing? They live in a group where nothing is true and everything is possible?
CELESTINI: I think that is really, first of all, they need civics lessons because the provincial governments actually, you know, put the mandates in place in their province, not federal. Each province has its own rules.
But the approach to this is that when you're talking about ideas of freedom and wanting these mandates to end, I think everyone is frustrated at the mandates that we have been facing. But the truth is that it's linked to so many other things.
So when we look at the social media, we watch the media on their video channels. We see that what they're articulating is that this is far greater than just mandates. It's really about tyranny and frustration, and their fears.
So when you think about conspiracy theories, or you think about social mobilization such as this, it's really inherently someone feeling a sense of perpetual disaster. One thing going wrong after another.
And they try to find a reason why this is happening. And so who is in control of this issue?
And here it's being articulated by some populist governments, by protests that we've had every weekend in various cities against the mandates.
It is being articulated that it is our prime minister, Justin Trudeau. And it is not focused on the government as a whole, but the individual. And so, there is a sense of what we call social heroism that you know you're going to be ostracized, that you will be attacked, and your friends might stop talking to you, or you might lose your job. But the most important thing is to fight to save Canada from this tyranny.
It's attached to ideas of populism, and attached to ideas of patriotism and nationalism.
VAUSE: Well, the protesters, they've been cleared from the Ambassador Bridge, but there are still thousands of them, I believe, that are in downtown Ottawa, still jamming the streets there.
CELESTINI: Yes.
VAUSE: So how does this end? I know there's been some kind of deal reportedly made between the protest leaders and the policeman. Let's see what happens there. But what is --
(CROSSTALK)
CELESTINI: Well, they're actually attacking that.
VAUSE: Ok.
CELESTINI: They're actually -- sorry.
VAUSE: No. Because how does it end. What does the end look like?
CELESTINI: Well, that's something that's going to be questionable at this point. Now, the (INAUDIBLE) agreement that you're talking about, they're now declining it there. They made that agreement with the mayor.
And so they are not saying they're going to do that. There's actually chatter on the social media to go back to Windsor and take over the bridge again with even more trucks.
[01:39:52]
CELESTINI: And so this is just going to continue. So what could happen is that the prime minister could enact emergency rules here and declare martial law and try and end this with military and police.
We could -- they could have more populism at the end of this, with the government people who are supporting them from the various parties and encouraging them to be part of this. And the encouragement that they are getting from other countries who are jumping on to this.
Or it could fizzle out in a very bad way. Now, they do articulate that, you know, they are peaceful, and generally it has been peaceful, but these ideas of freedom were and they have hot tubs set up and (INAUDIBLE) set up and bouncy castles set up, is that it is becoming something that is an occupation, much more than it is a protest, where they have moved in.
And so it could end this tomorrow. I know that Justin Trudeau has a meeting with (INAUDIBLE) and tomorrow meeting with their first minister. So there could be or declare of emergency at least tomorrow. VAUSE: Yes. Well, I guess -- let's hope it ends peacefully. We'll see.
It doesn't seem to be heading that way.
CELESTINI: No.
VAUSE: It just seems to be it's more of a permanent situation.
But Carmen Celestini, thank you so much. We really appreciate your time.
CELESTINI: Thank you.
VAUSE: We'll take a short break. When we come back home sweet home was so fine for the Rams. Life from Kelly with the Super Bowl LVI highlights. in a moment.
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VAUSE: An appropriate Hollywood ending, for the L.A. Rams in Super Bowl LVI. In the closing minutes a game-winning touchdown for the Rams, and a 23-20 win over the Cincinnati Bengals.
CNN's Andy Scholes very excited and outside the stadium in Inglewood, California with details.
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ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Super Bowl LVI here in Los Angeles is going to go down as one of the best ever. It had it all. Emotional lead changes, a heartbreaking injury, one of the best halftime shows we've ever seen, and a fantastic finish.
Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow showing up to Sofi Stadium for the Super Bowl with an incredible hat suit combo. We then had The Rock out on the field hyping up all the fans before kick off.
[01:44:58]
Rams will lead 13 to 10 at the half. But first play of the second half, Burrow going deep to Tee Higgins. He goes 75 yards for the score, so the Bengals take the lead, 17-13.
Fast forward to the fourth quarter, Matthew Stafford putting together a 15-play, 79-yard drive ending with Stafford hitting Cooper Kupp for his second touchdown in the game.
Burrow would get one more chance to go win this one, but Aaron Donald gets to him on fourth down, forcing the incomplete. Donald on the Rams defense sacking Burrow a Super Bowl record tying seven times.
L.A. wins 23 to 20. Kupp named the game's MVP. And Donald said this week, the only thing missing from his career was a title, and now he's got.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) AARON DONALD, L.A. RAMS: You know the ultimate goal was always to be a world champion. I've been saying that for the past few years. So, you know, to finally get the opportunity to feel this, to be living in it right now, at this time, this moment, it's like, I don't know, it's hard to put it in words right now.
MATTHEW STAFFORD, L.A. RAMS: It's probably going to take some time, you know, I'm going to have to think about it. I know in the moment, I was -- I don't know what to think. I was just a little emotional, and I'm so happy to be, you know, world champs.
And I'm so happy to be a part of this group, I mean that's the biggest thing. It's not me, it's not any individual on this team, we're a group, we're a team, and to get it done together was so special.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCHOLES: And this win a long time coming for Matthew Stafford. It's been 12 seasons in Detroit, suffered through a lot of losing. Stafford and Rams coach Don McVeigh, they ran into each other vacationing in Cabo in last off-season. That's when McVeigh decided to trade for Stafford, hoping he would get the Rams a title. Mission accomplished.
And what a season for Cooper Kupp. He's been the best receiver all year. Winning the triple crown in the receiving -- that's most receptions, most yards and most touchdowns. He's the offensive player of the year, now Super Bowl MVP. The great Jerry Rice, the only other receiver to do it for a career. Kupp did it all this season.
And finally the halftime show by Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg and Eminem, Mary J. Blige and Kendrick Lamar was just incredible. And the whole stadium singing and dancing the entire time. Got rave reviews on social media with some saying it was the best ever.
In Inglewood, California -- Andy Scholes, CNN.
VAUSE: When we come back, the FDA hitting a pause on moving forward with authorizing a COVID vaccine for children under five. A former commissioner of the FDA shares his take on what's behind that decision.
Also, scientists are studying sewage in hopes of finding out more about the pandemic. Details on that research, flushing it all out, after the break.
[01:47:34]
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VAUSE: Welcome back, everyone.
New details on why regulators in the U.S. delayed authorization of a COVID vaccine for children under five. Dr. Scott Gottlieb, a former FDA commissioner and current board member for Pfizer, says safety issues were not effective but rather have focused on the efficacy of two shots versus three. Trials of that third shot have been ongoing since December.
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SCOTT GOTTLIEB, BOARD MEMBER, PFIZER: Given the fact that that is changing, that evolving, new data is accruing it's hard for the FDA to give its advisors a fixed snapshot of what the absolute efficacies of this clinical trial, of the data set and so if they wait a little longer, if they administer the third dose in that clinical trial, they're not only going to have perhaps a better measure of effectiveness from this trial, but they'll also have a settled data set. They'll have a very firm picture of what level of effectiveness the vaccine is delivering.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VAUSE: The FDA's vaccine advisory committee has now delayed a meeting which was set for Tuesday.
Meantime across the United States, a growing number of states are moving to end masking mandates, even though the guidance from the CDC has not changed. U.S. President Joe Biden, he weighed in.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I committed that I would follow the science. The science says, put forward by the CDC and the federal people, and I think it's probably premature. But it's, you know, it's a tough call.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VAUSE: Officials in South Korea will soon make a fourth dose of COVID- 19 vaccine available amid a surge of new cases. 50,000 reported Sunday for the fifth consecutive day. Seoul reportedly will also supply millions of home testing kits.
Health authorities in Hong Kong are warning that hospital beds and quarantine facilities are nearly full. The city reported more than 1,300 new cases on Sunday. Officials say there are another 2,000 suspected positive cases.
Researchers in Italy are studying sewage and waste water in hopes to learn more about COVID-19 and potentially other viruses.
CNN'S Ben Wedeman has details.
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BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Modern cities churn out a lot of sewage. Rome has been doing it longer than most. And as unpleasant as this murky sludge may seem, there is much more to it than meets the nose.
(on camera): This is the exit of the Cloaca Maxima, ancient Rome's massive sewer. Archaeologists have been able to learn a lot about the diet of ancient Romans by studying residue of sewage from back then. (voice over): Modern scientists are now studying sewage to get an early warning of diseases like COVID-19. Standard data about the spread of COVID-19 is based on the results of clinical tests. But wastewater provides a much clearer picture of just how widespread the disease actually is. Not everyone is tested, not everyone has symptoms, everyone -- well almost everyone, however goes to the toilet.
In the bowels or rather the basement of Italy's National Institute of Health, researchers spend their days analyzing fresh sewage from around the country. Such research has revealed that COVID-19 was already circulating here in November 2019, months before the first cases were reported.
[01:54:55]
WEDEMAN: The field of waste water epidemiology, the monitoring of sewage for traces of disease is emerging as a critical tool for public health.
"It allows us to say in advance that the viruses present, in this case, specifically omicron," says researcher, Elisabetta Suffredini. "And in addition to an early warning, it allows us to understand how the virus is distributed, and how it's spreading."
That early warning is hidden in human feces, which carry genetic traces of COVID-19 days before they can appear in clinical tests.
The institute's Dr. Giuseppina La Rosa (ph) is spearheading a soon to be launched nationwide wastewater monitoring system.
"We can consider sewage treatment plants like eyes across the whole territory," she says, "telling us what is really circulating in the population."
It might not be pretty, but for researchers in this pandemic, this is gold.
Ben Wedeman, CNN -- Rome.
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VAUSE: Thank you for watching CNN NEWSROOM.
I'm John Vause. Please stay with us. CNN NEWSROOM continues after a very short break with my friend and colleague Rosemary Church.
You're watching CNN.
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[01:59:59]
ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR: Hello and welcome to our viewers joining us here in the United States and all around the world. You are watching CNN NEWSROOM. And I'm Rosemary Church. Just ahead, it's the doping scandal that's rocking the Olympics.
