Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva, whose doping scandal shook the international sports world, will not compete at the 2026 Milan-Cortina d'Ampezzo Winter Olympics. Although her suspension has ended, she did not meet the Olympic qualification requirements and will not take the stage.
The Associated Press reported on the 1st (Korea time) that Valieva made her comeback by competing at the Russian jump championships held in Moscow for the first time since her doping suspension expired. She received cheers from the crowd after successfully landing a quadruple toe loop in the preliminaries, but it was made clear that she would not be granted Olympic eligibility.
Valieva led Russia to the top in the team event at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics at the age of 15. However, controversy spread after a positive test for the banned substance trimetazidine was confirmed in a sample submitted in December 2021 during the Games. As a result, the Russian Olympic Committee's team gold medal was stripped and the gold medal was awarded to the United States.
The incident sent shockwaves through the figure skating world. At the time, Kim Yuna strongly criticized the participation of athletes who violated doping rules via her personal social media, emphasizing the principle that such athletes should not be allowed to compete. Her comment was meant to convey that the efforts and dreams of all athletes should be equally respected.
Subsequently, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) imposed a four-year suspension on Valieva, which did not expire until December 2025. However, the path to the Olympics did not open. To qualify for the Olympics, skaters must secure spots through results at international events recognized by the International Skating Union (ISU), and the suspension period overlapped with qualifying schedules, leaving no opportunity.
Her performance on the comeback stage also fell short of expectations. The event was held in a format that scored only jump elements for 90 seconds rather than a free program. Valieva wavered on the landing of her first quadruple toe loop in the semifinals and fell on her second attempt, making mistakes. She missed a spot in the final awarded to the top three and finished sixth.
Nonetheless, the enthusiasm at the venue did not cool. Reuters reported that banners bearing Valieva's name were hung in the arena and fans showed continued support by throwing dolls.
Meanwhile, with Valieva absent from the Olympic field, another Russian skater will compete for the gold. Adelina Petrosian is expected to compete as an individual neutral athlete, and foreign media have rated her as one of the leading contenders in the women's singles.
Valieva's chance for the Olympics became uncertain after the setback for Milan. If she aims for the Olympics again, she may have to wait for the 2030 Games.
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