Most Talked-About Controversies Linked to Kamila Valieva
Controversies are a part of history. Explore the biggest scandals linked to Kamila Valieva.
Kamila Valieva is a Russian figure skater notable for her achievements, including winning the 2021 Rostelecom Cup, the 2021 Skate Canada, the 2020 Junior World Championship, and the 2019-20 Junior Grand Prix Final. She also secured a silver medal at the 2021 Russian National Championships, establishing herself as a prominent figure in the world of figure skating.
December 2021: Positive Drug Test Sample
In December 2021, Kamila Valieva submitted a sample for a drug test that later tested positive for trimetazidine during the 2022 Winter Olympics.
December 2021: Positive Drug Test Coincident with Competition
In December 2021, Valieva's positive drug test was found coincident with the competition.
December 2021: Valieva Submits Urine Sample
On December 25, 2021, Valieva submitted a urine sample after winning at the Russian Nationals. This sample later tested positive for a banned substance.
December 2021: Valieva's Sample Taken at Russian Championships
On December 25, 2021, Valieva's urine sample was taken by RUSADA at the 2022 Russian Figure Skating Championships.
December 2021: Start of Retroactive Disqualification
Valieva's four-year disqualification was made retroactive to December 25, 2021, due to an anti-doping rule violation, as announced on January 29, 2024.
2021: Anti-Doping Violation
In 2021, Kamila Valieva had an anti-doping violation that was later addressed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in 2024.
January 2022: 2022 Russian Championships and European Championships
In January 2022, Kamila Valieva won the 2022 Russian Championships and made her European Championships debut, finishing first but later having her results nullified by the CAS in 2024 due to a 2021 anti-doping violation. She was also named to the Russian Olympic team.
February 2022: Positive Doping Test Results Forwarded
In February 2022, after the Beijing Olympics had started, the positive doping test results from Valieva's December 2021 urine sample were forwarded for evaluation.
February 2022: Medal Ceremony Delayed Due to Positive Test
In February 2022, specifically on February 8, the medal ceremony for the team event at the Olympics, where the ROC won gold, was delayed. It was later confirmed on February 11 that Valieva had tested positive for trimetazidine, with the sample being taken on December 25, 2021.
March 2022: Valieva's "B" Sample Not Requested, Explanation Provided
By March 9, 2022, Valieva had not requested testing of her "B" sample, and her explanation was that the banned substance belonged to her grandfather. On March 17, WADA requested that RUSADA complete its report on Valieva by August 8, 2022.
June 2022: ISU Raises Minimum Age for Competition
On June 7, 2022, the ISU raised the minimum age for competition at figure skating events from 15 to 17 years of age following the Valieva incident at the Beijing Olympics.
August 2022: WADA Deadline for RUSADA Report
On March 17, 2022, WADA requested that RUSADA complete its report on Valieva and her entourage by August 8, 2022.
October 2022: Valieva Competes in Russian Grand Prix
In October 2022, Valieva continued to compete within Russian borders, participating in the Russian Grand Prix, despite Russia's ban from international skating events.
November 2022: WADA Appeals Valieva Case to CAS
On November 14, 2022, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) registered an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) regarding a possible anti-doping rule violation by Kamila Valieva.
December 2022: Valieva Sanctioned by Ukrainian Government
In December 2022, the Ukrainian government issued personal sanctions against 56 athletes, including Valieva, accusing them of supporting the war in Ukraine.
2022: Transparency Concerns
In 2022, concerns were raised about the lack of transparency in the Valieva case, leading to distrust in the anti-doping system.
2022: 2022 Winter Olympics Team Event
In 2022, during the Winter Olympics team event, Kamila Valieva contributed to the Russian team's apparent first-place finish with strong performances, but the medal ceremony was postponed due to a doping investigation. In 2024, her results were nullified and her team medal was stripped.
2022: Positive Drug Test and Disqualification
In 2022, during the Winter Olympics, a drug test sample from Valieva tested positive for trimetazidine, leading to controversy and later disqualification from some events.
2022: 2022 Russian Figure Skating Championships
In 2022, following Valieva's disqualification from the Russian Championships due to a positive drug test, Alexandra Trusova was awarded the gold medal, Anna Shcherbakova the silver, and Adeliia Petrosian the bronze.
2022: ISU Disqualifies Valieva
In 2022, the ISU disqualified Valieva from the European Championships and the Winter Olympics, leading to reallocation of medals.
2022: Russian Olympic Committee Participation
In March 2023, the IOC specified that Russian athletes should not be allowed to compete under the Russian Olympic Committee as they did in Beijing 2022, due to the war.
January 2023: RUSADA Strips Valieva of Gold Medal
On January 13, 2023, RUSADA stripped Valieva of her gold medal from the 2022 Russian Figure Skating Championships due to a positive drug test for trimetazidine. However, RUSADA did not strip her Olympic gold medal, prompting WADA to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
March 2023: CAS Selects Judges for Valieva Case
In March 2023, CAS was in the process of selecting a 3-judge panel to decide on Valieva's eligibility for the next Winter Olympics based on their investigation.
March 2023: IOC Supports Return of Russian and Belarusian Athletes
In March 2023, the IOC stated its support for the return of Russian and Belarusian athletes like Valieva, under specific conditions of neutrality.
June 2023: CAS Announces Hearing Dates
On June 22, 2023, CAS announced that the hearing in the doping case was scheduled to take place September 26–29, 2023.
September 2023: CAS Panel of Arbitrators Announced
On September 15, 2023, it was announced that British lawyer James Drake would lead the CAS panel of arbitrators for Valieva's doping case.
September 2023: CAS Adjourns Hearing
On September 28, 2023, CAS adjourned Valieva's hearing until November 9–10 after ordering the production of further documentation.
January 2024: CAS Disqualifies Valieva
On January 29, 2024, CAS disqualified Valieva for four years retroactive to December 25, 2021, for an anti-doping rule violation.
January 2024: CAS Ruling and Ban
On January 29, 2024, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled on Valieva's doping case, imposing a four-year ban backdated to December 25, 2021, and disqualifying her from competitive results from that date.
January 2024: CAS Final Decision Expected
On November 10, 2023, CAS announced that a final decision in Valieva's case was expected by the end of January 2024.
2024: Valieva's Results Nullified
In 2024, Kamila Valieva's results in the 2022 Olympic team event were nullified and her team medal was stripped by a decision of the CAS due to doping allegations.
2024: Eligibility of Russian Athletes
In 2024, it was reported that the terms of the eligibility of Russian athletes at the Summer Olympics allowed for 15 Russian 'neutrals' to fully participate apparently allowing for the possibility for Valieva to participate at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
2024: CAS rescinds 2022 European Championship results.
In 2024, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) rescinded Kamila Valieva's first-place finish at the European Championships due to a 2021 anti-doping violation.
2026: Potential Participation in 2026 Winter Olympics
In 2024, there was a possibility for Valieva to participate at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
