Winter Olympics: Kamila Valieva test puts Russia & doping in spotlight again

The fact Valieva is a child is what makes this failed drugs test particularly shocking.

“Kamila Valieva is a young girl and child prodigy, whose highly difficult performances and grace enchanted the whole world at only 15. A minor, depending on adults and she is not to blame here,” double Olympic champion Katarina Witt wrote in an emotional Facebook post. , external

“It is a shame, and the responsible adults should be banned from the sport forever.”

Valieva tested positive for trimetazidine, which is used in the prevention of angina attacks, but is on the banned list because it is classed as a cardiac metabolic modulator and has been proven to improve physical efficiency.

Former Wada deputy director Rob Koehler said there were three organisations to blame for Valieva’s positive test – Wada, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas).

“By not banning Russia for four years, there was no need or desire for cultural change by Russian authorities. By allowing Russia a free pass these organisations have severely let down every single athlete in Russia because it’s business as usual,” he said.

“Athletes in Russia deserved a cultural change, they deserved the right to have the opportunity to compete clean. Instead, Wada, the IOC and Cas favoured the power and influence of Russian sport over clean sport.”