In a significant development, Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva has been handed a four-year doping ban by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). This decision effectively strips the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) of its gold medal in the team event at the 2022 Beijing Winter Games. The ruling comes nearly two years after the competition and follows a long-awaited judgment that found Valieva guilty of an anti-doping rule violation that had created turmoil during the Beijing Olympics.
CAS stated, “Kamila Valieva is found to have committed an anti-doping rule violation and sanctioned with a four-year period of ineligibility commencing on December 25, 2021.” The court also nullified all competitive results achieved by Valieva since that date, including the gold medal she contributed to ROC’s victory in the team event.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) welcomed the decision as a triumph for fair sport. WADA’s director general, Olivier Niggli, expressed satisfaction, emphasizing the importance of the process for clean athletes. The case had faced delays, but WADA persisted in its appeal, leading to a resolution aligned with their position.
In response to the CAS decision, WADA President Witold Banka advocated for criminalizing doping of minors, stating, “Anyone who dopes children should be in prison.” The case highlighted concerns over doping in sports, especially when it involves underage athletes.
The ROC denounced the ruling, characterizing it as a declaration of war on Russian sport. The committee accused CAS of lacking objectivity and impartiality, expressing dissatisfaction with the decision.
Kamila Valieva, who made history as the first woman to land a quadruple jump at the Olympics, will see her suspension lifted in time for the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Games. Meanwhile, the delay in medal allocation for the team figure skating event during the Beijing Games has left athletes and nations eagerly awaiting the resolution of this protracted case.