[Olympics] Doping Juvenile Yulia Valieva Sparks Fairness Controversy on the Ice

Approval Granted Despite CAS Rule Violation, Undermining Fair Sportsmanship
Other Russian Athletes Also Under Suspicion... No Medal Ceremony Even If Gold Medal Won

[Image source=Yonhap News]

For athletes, banned substances are an alluring forbidden fruit. Relying solely on individual goodwill and morality has its limits. The battle between doping and anti-doping camps is evolving. When illegal drug testing methods are developed, ways to evade them are found, or entirely new drugs that do not get detected by tests begin to be used.

Considering the athlete's mindset that seeks performance enhancement even through the power of drugs, anti-doping measures inevitably end up being too little, too late. The Kamila Valieva (Russia) incident at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics seems to make this even more difficult. The situation became complicated when the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) approved Valieva's participation in the women's singles figure skating event despite violating doping regulations.

Last December, at the Russian National Championships, Valieva performed a quadruple jump?a feat even male skaters find challenging?setting an unofficial world record in women's singles. A urine sample submitted at that time tested positive for trimetazidine, an angina medication banned since 2014 by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) because it can be used as a stimulant to increase blood flow and endurance.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) initially imposed a provisional suspension but later withdrew it. The International Olympic Committee (IOC), WADA, and the International Skating Union (ISU) filed appeals with CAS. CAS opened the door for Valieva's Olympic participation, judging that restricting her from competing could cause irreparable harm since she is a minor under 15 years old. They also cited that Valieva did not test positive during the Olympic period.

Even if Valieva wins a medal at this event, she is unlikely to be recognized in the figure skating community. This is because she has damaged the core sports values of fairness and transparency. Athletes who must compete under "unfair competition" conditions cannot help but be distracted before their events. Kim Yuna, the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic gold medalist, emphasized, "Athletes who violate doping rules should not be allowed to compete. This principle must be upheld without exception."

Suspicions of banned substance use also extend to Anna Shcherbakova and Alexandra Trusova (both from Russia), who secured Olympic spots alongside Valieva. The figure skating world is even casting doubt on gold medals won at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics (Adelina Sotnikova) and the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics (Alina Zagitova).

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

Russia is not free from controversy over banned substance use. The country has been sanctioned by the IOC for state-level doping manipulations, including sample tampering at the Sochi Winter Olympics. Until December this year, Russia cannot use its country name or flag at the Olympics. This Olympics, athletes are participating as individuals under the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) banner. Dick Pound, the senior IOC member, said, "Russia has not reflected on its actions. It should be banned from the Olympics for another two to three cycles."

It remains unclear how Valieva obtained the banned substances or who recommended them. Suspicion falls on coach Eteri Tutberidze, notorious for her grueling training methods. She selects small, slender children who have not yet begun their secondary growth and demands high-difficulty jumps. Most of her students, including Evgenia Medvedeva, Yulia Lipnitskaya, and Alina Zagitova, suffered from anorexia and ended their figure skating careers early or quit altogether. Contrary to CAS's explanation, the irreparable harm continues.

Even if she wins gold, the situation will not change. The IOC plans not to hold either a simple flower-giving ceremony or an official medal ceremony if Valieva places in the women's singles medal positions. If it is finally confirmed that the Russian figure skating team gold medal, won on the 7th in collaboration with her teammates, violated regulations, it will also be stripped.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.