The IOC has been notified by attorneys for the U.S. figure skating athletes whose Olympic silver medals have been withheld. They have also informed the Associated Press that they have filed an appeal to have the medals awarded before the Beijing Games.

Attorneys sent a letter to Thomas Bach, IOC president, on Saturday in China. A copy of this letter was obtained by AP. They stated that they would seek a ruling from the Court of Arbitration for Sport before Sunday’s closing ceremony.

Kamila Valieva, the Russian team’s leader, won the team event last week. The U.S. came in second. Shortly after, the positive doping test was revealed for the 15-year old skater. CAS granted her permission to continue skating at the women’s event. However, the International Olympic Committee stated that it would not award medals for any events where she placed among the top three.

She was fourth in the women’s event. After a long, error-filled program, she was overcome with emotion and left the ice crying.

This is the case of the team event that was held the week before. The event was won by the Russians by a wide margin. Canada was fourth, while Japan came in third.

In a letter addressed to American runners-up, the IOC states that the IOC’s own rules require that an IOC victory ceremony “to present medals for the athletes shall be held following the conclusion of each sporting event.”

Bach gave the skaters Olympic torches in a meeting earlier this year as a memento for the doping case that could take months or even years.

Although they expressed hope that the IOC would reconsider, the attorneys stated that they were filing an appeal because of the urgency.

U.S. Ramsey Baker, executive director of Figure Skating, sent an AP statement in support to the skaters.

Baker stated, “Having an Olympic Games medal ceremony is something that cannot be replicated elsewhere and should be celebrated before leaving Beijing.”

Paul Greene, an attorney representing athletes in doping cases and other cases against Olympic authorities, wrote to Bach stating that the IOC president had requested their feedback.

He wrote, “A dignified ceremony for a medal is from our clients’ vantage point one in the Medals Plaza originally planned and afforded all other medalists.”

The Russian anti-doping agency initially placed Valieva on a provisional suspension. However, the agency later lifted her suspension. The IOC and World Anti-Doping Agency launched an appeal to CAS. They quickly responded and declared that Valieva could still participate.

This did not answer the bigger question about the results of the team competition.

Nine Americans are in the running to win some kind of medal — either the second prize they want to receive this weekend or a golden that could be theirs if Valieva’s doping case disqualifies the Russians.

Valieva, who is 15 years old, is considered an “protected individual” under anti-doping laws and is unlikely to face a severe penalty. Russian and international anti-doping authorities are investigating her coaches and doctors.