In a significant development for Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva, her status to compete internationally as a neutral athlete has been revoked, according to a source familiar with the situation. This decision marks another chapter in Valieva's tumultuous career, which has been marred by controversy since the 2022 Beijing Olympics.
Valieva was initially granted neutral status under a new rule from the International Skating Union (ISU) that allows athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete unless they meet specific disqualifying criteria. However, her status was rescinded due to concerns that she may have violated those criteria, particularly regarding her past support for Russia's military actions in Ukraine.
Alongside Valieva, Russian men's skater Mark Kondratiuk, who also participated in the 2022 Olympics, has had his neutral status revoked. The ISU is expected to make a ruling on appeals from both athletes by mid-next week. Should the decision remain unchanged, they will have the option to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
The revocation of Valieva's status was first reported by Russian media outlets, and she has not yet publicly commented on the matter. This decision comes in the wake of the ISU's 2022 ban on skaters from Russia and Belarus following the invasion of Ukraine, a move that has significantly impacted the careers of many athletes from those countries.
Despite the ban, the ISU has allowed a limited number of skaters to return for the upcoming Milan Cortina Olympics and qualifying events. Last season, two Russian figure skaters, Adeliia Petrosian and Petr Gumennik, competed at the Olympics, though neither secured a medal. For the current season, the ISU has not placed limits on the number of neutral athletes, instead establishing a presumption of eligibility unless proven otherwise.
According to the ISU's regulations, athletes may be denied neutral status if they are associated with military or security forces, have participated in military operations against Ukraine, or have actively supported the war since 2022. Valieva's case is particularly notable as she was at the center of a legal battle during the 2022 Beijing Games when a positive test for the banned substance trimetazidine was revealed shortly after she helped her team secure a gold medal.
Following the scandal, Valieva was disqualified from the team event, which led to the United States being upgraded to gold. Although she was a favorite for the women's individual title, she ultimately finished fourth, facing criticism from her coach, Eteri Tutberidze, in the aftermath. Valieva served a ban that is set to expire in December 2025 and has since participated in Russian competitions.
In response to ongoing controversies, the ISU has updated its rules to raise the minimum age for skaters to 17, effective for the Milan Cortina Olympics. This change aims to address concerns surrounding the eligibility and conduct of younger athletes in high-stakes competitions.
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