Putin Meets Russian Figure Skater Valieva Accused of Doping: "A Perfect Performance Impossible with Drugs"

Controversy Over Detection of Trimetazidine at the 2022 Beijing Olympics

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 February 15 at the Capital Indoor Stadium in Beijing, China. After performing to Kirill Richter's "In Memoriam," she shed tears. /Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] Russian President Vladimir Putin met and encouraged Kamila Valieva (16), the Russian figure skater who caused a doping controversy at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.

On the 26th (local time), the British daily The Guardian reported that President Putin invited the medal-winning athletes from the Beijing Olympics to the Kremlin, held a ceremony to encourage and reward them.

President Putin praised Valieva, saying, "She has elevated sports to true art through her performance," and added, "Such a perfect level cannot be achieved through drugs or manipulation."

In particular, President Putin used the term "extra substance" instead of banned drugs, emphasizing, "We know well that figure skating does not require extra substances."

Valieva, holding a bouquet and smiling brightly beside President Putin that day, expressed her feelings, saying, "It is a great honor for me."

Russian President Vladimir Putin posed with Kamila Valieva, the national representative in women's figure skating, at the Beijing Winter Olympics medal ceremony at the Moscow Kremlin on the 26th (local time).
Photo by Yonhap News

Earlier, Valieva, who was considered a strong favorite to win the women's singles figure skating event at the Beijing Winter Olympics, tested positive for a banned substance in a doping sample collected in December last year after the team event ended.

The drug she took was "trimetazidine," a medication for angina, which can also be used as a stimulant to increase blood flow and improve endurance. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) designated it as a banned substance in 2014.

After many twists and turns, she participated in the individual event but fell several times during her routine due to psychological pressure, finishing in a disappointing overall 4th place.

Meanwhile, President Putin also expressed dissatisfaction with the ban on Russian athletes' participation that day. Russian athletes are currently banned from international competitions due to the invasion of Ukraine.

President Putin criticized the 9-month competition ban imposed by the International Swimming Federation on Olympic swimming medalist Evgeny Rylov, who attended a rally supporting the invasion of Ukraine, calling it "absurd" and "discrimination based on nationality."

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