By MK Myers

Competing as one of the top figure skaters in the world, fifteen-year-old Kamila Valieva failed a drug test during the 2022 Winter Olympics. After testing positive for three different drugs, Valieva was suspended from the Winter Olympics.

Valieva, born in Kazan, Russia, began figure skating in 2009. She moved to Moscow when she was six to train at SSHOR Moskvich. In 2018, Valieva began skating at Sambo-70, where she began to be coached by her current coach, Eteri Tutberidze. Valieva currently holds nine world records, which aren’t in jeopardy due to the doping scandal. She is the first female skater to land a quadruple jump in the Olympics.

Valieva at the European Championship.

However, during the 2022 Winter Olympics, a drug test that Valieva had completed on December 24, 2021, came back positive. It was discovered on February 8 that Valieva tested positive for Trimetazidine, a heart medication that enhances blood flow and endurance, and three legal oxygen boosters: Hypoxyne, L-carnitine, and Supradyne. Trimetazidine was banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency in 2014.

A performance-enhancing drug, Trimetazidine could have assisted Valieva with landing her jumps and increasing her endurance. This would help Valieva crush her opponents by making it easier to perform multiple jumps in the second half of her routine; in figure skating, up to three jumps in the second half of a performance receive a 10% bonus in the scoring system. 

Valieva performing her single skating short program performance at the 2022 Winter Olympics.

Valieva was immediately suspended from competing in the Olympics by the World Anti-Doping Agency, which she appealed the following day. The Russian Olympics Committee defended Valieva by claiming that she had passed drug tests before and after December 24, and stating that the positive drug test shouldn’t affect her competing in the Olympics. The World Anti-Doping Agency decided to send the situation to the Court of Arbitration for Sport for an expedited hearing on the situation. Fans found it ridiculous that it took over a month to receive Valieva’s test results and believed that the World Anti-Doping Agency should have requested them, knowing that the Olympics were approaching.

According to the World Anti-Doping Agency, Valieva’s lawyer, Anna Kozmenko, claimed that Valieva accidentally ingested trimetazidine through a contaminated substance. The medication would belong to Valieva’s grandfather, who takes it to help his heart. After the hearing at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, Valieva’s suspension was repealed.

Since some details about Valieva’s situation are unknown, and Valieva was not forced to sit out the rest of the Olympics, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced that there would not be a medal ceremony held for the team event, in which Russia won gold. The IOC also announced that there would be no medal ceremony after the Women’s Individual Figure Skating event if Valieva placed in the top three on February 18. Valieva placed fourth.

Valieva after finishing her short program performance in the Winter Olympics 2022.

Valieva’s doping scandal brought attention to the other Russian athletes at the Olympics. Currently, Russia is serving a ban from global sports because of a previous doping scandal. Today, Russian athletes can participate in global sporting events, but with special permission, and it is necessary for sports federations to confirm that they are free of all banned substances. This requirement was put into place after a Russian lab slipped substances through a wall during the night at the 2014 Sochi Olympics. Members of the Russian Secret Service acted as lab engineers and urged lab workers to keep the Russian athletes’ positive drug results. Russian athletes also used fake identities to avoid testing, and some officials and coaches submitted fake drug samples for the athletes who would’ve otherwise tested positive.

Due to Russia’s numerous doping scandals, athletes are no longer permitted to compete under the Russian flag at international competitions. However, they can be approved to compete under the Russian Olympic Committee, or as neutral athletes.

Valieva with Coach Tutberidze at the European Championship.

Although Valieva is still one of the most successful figure skaters in the world today, it has been said that it is very unlikely that she will return to compete at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy. It is not unusual for Russian Olympic figure skaters to never return to the Olympics. In fact, the 2022 Winter Olympics marks the fourth consecutive year that there were no returning figure skaters on the Russian team. People around the world are concerned about the skaters coached by Russian Olympic Figure Skating Coach Eteri Tutberidze, due to a history of her athletes developing eating disorders, injuries, and short careers. Figure skating is often easier for younger athletes because as an athlete’s body changes in shape and size, they usually have to relearn their jumps. 

Valieva continues to figure skate at her home ice rink, Sambo-70. It is unsure when she will compete again.

Photo credit for all images: Valieva’s Instagram (@kamilavalieva26).