[Summary] "Banned Substances in Urine" 'Doping Athlete' Valieva's Controversy Over Participation Decision

'Positive Doping' Valieva Competes in Individual Event
"Due to Grandfather's Heart Medication"... Controversy Grows Over Unconvincing Explanation
Figure Skating Commentators Silent Throughout Broadcast... 'Boycott'

Kamila Valieva of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) competed in the women's singles short program figure skating event at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics held on the afternoon of the 15th at the Capital Indoor Stadium in Beijing, China. After performing to Kirill Richter's "In Memoriam," she shed tears.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

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[Asia Economy Reporter Yoon Seul-gi] Kamila Valieva (16, Russian Olympic Committee), who competed in the individual event at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics after being granted relief by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) despite testing positive for banned substances, took first place in the short program.

Valieva's side claimed that the 'doping scandal' was due to her grandfather's heart medication, but they did not disclose how the urine sample became contaminated, leading to continued criticism. The three major terrestrial broadcasters protested with a 'silent broadcast' during Valieva's performance.

On the 15th, Valieva scored a technical element score (TES) of 44.51 points and a program component score (PCS) of 37.65 points, totaling 82.16 points in the women's singles figure skating short program held at the Capital Indoor Stadium in Beijing. This score was far below her personal best short program score of 90.45 points and the 90.18 points she received in the team event short program at this competition.

Previously, Valieva was under scrutiny after banned substances were detected in her urine sample. Perhaps due to the pressure from this, she showed signs of instability during the final practice by falling twice while attempting a triple Axel. In the actual competition, she made a mistake by landing on both feet after the triple Axel, but she perfectly executed the remaining elements and took the lead to advance to the free skate.

Kamila Valieva of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) performed to Kirill Richter's "In Memoriam" music in the women's singles short program of figure skating at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, held on the afternoon of the 15th at the Capital Indoor Stadium in Beijing, China.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Valieva was called a 'figure skating prodigy' for flawlessly executing quadruple jumps, which were once considered the exclusive domain of some male figure skaters. Thanks to Valieva's overwhelming skill, Russia won the team event gold medal for the first time at the Beijing Olympics. However, the team event medal ceremony was indefinitely postponed the next day due to doping allegations against Valieva.

On the 15th, Valieva's side explained the doping controversy. According to foreign media, at the CAS hearing, Valieva's mother and lawyer claimed, "The doping was due to the heart medication taken by her grandfather." They argued that the urine sample was contaminated because it was mixed with the medication her grandfather was taking. However, it was not disclosed whether Valieva herself took her grandfather's heart medication or how the heart medication components appeared in the doping sample.

According to the Spanish sports outlet Marca, the lawyer stated, "She used the same cup as her grandfather who takes heart medication," but this unclear explanation only intensified the controversy. Russian media Pravda reported, "Trimetazidine is contained in film-coated pills or capsules and dissolves only in the intestines," and experts rebutted, "The only way to transfer this substance to another person is through vomiting."

Despite the doping scandal, figure skating commentators remained silent in protest toward Kamila Valieva (16, Russian Olympic Committee), who competed in the women's singles short program at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics held at the Beijing Capital Indoor Stadium in China. The photo shows SBS commentator Lee Ho-jung (left) and SBS caster Lee Hyun-kyung (right) speaking after Valieva's performance. Photo by SBS News.

The reaction of the Korean terrestrial broadcasters' commentators to Valieva's participation amid the doping controversy was cold. Commentators from KBS, MBC, and SBS remained silent without much commentary when Valieva competed in the women's singles short program on the 15th. It appears they boycotted the broadcast in protest of her participation despite the positive doping test.

SBS commentator Lee Ho-jung said with a stern expression after Valieva's performance, "I could not provide commentary on a player who competed in the Olympics despite doping," and criticized, "What about the efforts of athletes who trained hard from a young age and earned their Olympic spots fairly?" SBS caster Lee Hyun-kyung also explained, "I would like to point out that the commentators could not make any remarks about a player who tested positive for doping."

KBS commentator Kwak Min-jung said, "I didn't really have much to say. I didn't want to do the broadcast. I can't decide whether she participates or not, but naturally, there is a negative view on that part. I think my opinion was reflected in that." MBC only gave brief technical explanations and pointed out that Valieva's participation was unfair.

Meanwhile, even if Valieva wins a medal, she will not be allowed to stand on the podium. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) officially announced on the 14th that even if Valieva wins a medal, neither a simple flower bouquet ceremony nor an official medal ceremony will be held. This decision means that Valieva will not be recognized as a medalist until the doping controversy is resolved.

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