The 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing were overshadowed by a doping scandal involving Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva. The 15-year-old, a rising star, tested positive for trimetazidine, a banned substance, in December 2021, but the result wasn’t disclosed until February 8, 2022, after she helped Russia win gold in the team event.
Despite the positive test, Valieva was allowed to compete in the women’s singles event, where she finished fourth. However, the medal ceremony was delayed, leaving the results in limbo.
The Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) initially cleared Valieva due to her age, but WADA and the IOC challenged this decision. In 2024, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) handed Valieva a four-year ban, stripping her of all results since December 2021, including the team gold medal, which was reassigned to the U.S., Japan, and Canada.
The scandal sparked debates about protecting young athletes from exploitation and the integrity of international sports. Valieva’s case highlights the ongoing need for stronger anti-doping regulations and better safeguards for athletes under intense pressure. Was she really that innocent and did not know anything, or was she just playing along with the russian government?
Also, her “Bolero” program was truly heartbreaking, just look at it – hard to believe that she was only 15 years old.
