Frequent Suspicions Confirmed...The Fall of 17-Year-Old Figure Skating Queen and Beijing Gold Medalist

2022 Olympic Team Event Medal Revoked
Kremlin Palace of Russia Denounces as "Political Decision"

Kamila Valieva (17), a Russian figure skating star, has been found to have used a banned substance before a competition. As a result, Valieva has been suspended from competition for a total of four years, and the gold medal won by the Russian national team at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics has been invalidated.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, Switzerland, issued a statement on the 29th (local time) saying, "After reviewing whether Valieva violated the International Olympic Committee (IOC) anti-doping regulations, it was determined that a violation occurred, and a four-year suspension from competition has been imposed." Valieva's suspension period runs from December 2021, when the drug test was conducted, until December next year.

Kamila Valieva of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC), who was involved in the 'doping scandal,' is seen shedding tears after finishing her performance to Kirill Richter's "In Memoriam" music during the women's singles short program figure skating event at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

The CAS panel acknowledged the fact that Valieva tested positive for trimetazidine, a banned substance under anti-doping regulations. This drug is originally used as a treatment for angina but can also enhance physical efficiency in athletes, leading to its designation as a banned substance in 2014. Valieva was only 15 years old at the time of use. However, the panel ruled that her young age does not justify leniency in the sanction.

Additionally, CAS stripped the gold medal that Russia won in the team event at the Beijing Winter Olympics in February 2022, in which Valieva participated after the drug test. The panel stated, "Since Valieva contributed to the team's victory, the gold medal is invalid," and "All competition results achieved by Valieva thereafter are also nullified."

Russia opposed the CAS decision. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, "We do not agree with this decision. It is a political decision," adding, "We must protect the interests of Russian athletes to the end, and if there is an appeal process, we will certainly use it."

Valieva has been a skater who, since her junior figure skating days, has consistently performed quadruple jumps?difficult even for male skaters?and set world records. However, she became embroiled in controversy after testing positive in a drug test conducted at the Russian National Figure Skating Championships in December 2021.

Despite repeated controversies, she participated in the Beijing Winter Olympics in February the following year, winning a gold medal in the team event but failing to medal in individual events. She continued to earn medals steadily in Russian domestic competitions during the 2022?2023 season but placed fourth at the figure skating Grand Prix held in Kazan, Republic of Tatarstan, Russia, in November last year.

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