DOPING: THE VALIEVA CASE

Kamila Valieva, a promising Russian figure skater, has become the focal point of a heated debate in the sports world following allegations of violations of international anti-doping regulations, which prohibit the use of performance-enhancing substances. 

Born on February 13, 2006, Valieva quickly displayed extraordinary talent in figure skating. Her stunning performances, incredible flexibility, and ability to execute complex acrobatics at such a young age have made her one of the emerging stars in the sport. 

Valieva made her international debut in the 2019-2020 season during the ISU Junior Grand Prix, where she secured the top spot on the podium. That same season, she also won two additional gold medals at the Russian Junior Nationals and the Junior World Championships. 

During the 2021-2022 season, Valieva achieved remarkable milestones. At the Finlandia Trophy, she broke two previous world records for the free skate (174.31 points) and total score (249.24 points). She went on to win gold at Skate Canada, setting two more world records (180.89 points in the free skate and 265.08 total). At the Rostelecom Cup, she again broke records, achieving the current world records in the free skate (185.29 points) and total score (272.71 points). Her victory at the Russian National Championships earned her a spot on the Russian team for the 2022 European Championships in Tallinn, where she broke her own short program record (scoring 90.45 points), becoming the first skater to surpass 90 points internationally, and went on to win the gold medal. 

Despite her young age, Valieva already boasts numerous titles and medals in junior competitions, demonstrating her dominance in the category. However, during the Beijing Winter Olympics, doping allegations surfaced, calling her integrity as an athlete into question. At just fifteen years old, Valieva tested positive for banned substances during anti-doping tests conducted at the Russian National Championships in St. Petersburg (where she claimed the gold medal) in December 2021. The tests detected trimetazidine, a drug used to treat angina, a condition characterized by severe chest pain, but which is prohibited for athletes. The positive result emerged in February 2022 during the Olympics, when Russia won gold in the team event. Following these allegations, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the International Skating Union (ISU) filed appeals, seeking a four-year suspension for the skater. 

Two years after the accusations, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne issued a ruling disqualifying Valieva for four years starting from December 25, 2021, the date of the violation. The ISU subsequently nullified all results achieved by Valieva from December 25, 2021, including the Olympic gold medal in the team event, which was awarded to the United States. This decision also reshuffled the rankings of the European Championships and the Olympic team and individual events. Valieva’s suspension will end on December 25, 2025, allowing her to compete in the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics.