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Olympics: More on Kamila Valieva - the 15-year-old ROC star figure skater

February 11, 2022
The GIST: With next week’s women’s singles figure skating competition looming, the story of Kamila Valieva — the 15-year-old ROC star figure skater at the center of a doping controversy — continues to accelerate.
Sports NewsOlympic SportsFigure Skating
Olympics: More on Kamila Valieva - the 15-year-old ROC star figure skaterOlympics: More on Kamila Valieva - the 15-year-old ROC star figure skater
ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES

The GIST: With next week’s women’s singles figure skating competition looming, the story of Kamila Valieva — the 15-year-old ROC star figure skater at the center of a doping controversy — continues to accelerate.

The latest: Overnight, the International Testing Agency (or ITA, the group that manages the Olympics anti-doping programs) confirmed that Valieva tested positive for a banned heart medication that can aid performance.

  • The shocker? She tested positive back in December during the Russian Figure Skating Championships, but the test was only returned the day after ROC won gold in the team event. Don’t be suspicious, don’t be suspicious.
  • While Valieva was then provisionally suspended by the Russian Anti-Doping Agency on Tuesday, she quickly appealed and that suspension was lifted on Wednesday, conveniently before the singles event begins.
  • Now, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is appealing to the ​​Court of Arbitration for Sport for the suspension to be reinstated. Wow.

Zooming out: This is far from the first time Russia’s been involved in a doping scandal, and this latest story is yet again shining a light on the deeply troubling system these athletes train within.

  • Valieva’s been touted as the first womanto land a quadruple jump at the Olympics, but, in reality, she’s just a teenager. The adults involved also need to be held accountable.

What’s next: With her suspension currently lifted, Valieva is still practicing for the singles event. Her future at these Games now rests on an urgent hearing determination. Stay tuned.

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