The controversy surrounding Kamila Valieva’s doping scandal has once again taken center stage, with former Olympic speed skating champion and Russian State Duma deputy Svetlana Zhurova weighing in on the matter.
Zhurova recently suggested that Valieva should return the medals that were stripped from her, arguing that doing so would allow the young skater to move on with her career and life.
A Victory Tainted by Controversy
Zhurova acknowledged Valieva’s undeniable talent and admitted that she deserved her European Championship gold.
However, she believes that the controversy surrounding her victories has cast a shadow over her achievements.
In her view, giving back the medals would be a way for Valieva to put the scandal behind her and focus on the future.
According to Zhurova, true success is not just about medals but also about the support and respect of fans.
Medals Yet to Be Returned
Reports indicate that Valieva has yet to return the medals that were officially revoked.
The gold medal from her European Championship win is now set to be awarded to fellow Russian skater Anna Shcherbakova, while Alexandra Trusova will be recognized as the 2022 Russian champion.
In addition, Valieva is expected to return medals from two Russian Championships, three Grand Prix stages, and a Grand Prix Final.
The Four-Year Ban and Its Impact
The scandal dates back to the 2022 Winter Olympics, where a sample taken from Valieva in December 2021 tested positive for trimetazidine, a banned substance.
The case went through extensive legal proceedings, culminating in a ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in January 2024.
The court imposed a four-year ban on Valieva, retroactive to December 25, 2021.
This decision disqualified her competitive results from that period, including her first-place finishes at the 2022 European Figure Skating Championships and the 2022 Olympic team event.
As a result of the ruling, Russia lost its Olympic team gold from the 2022 Games.
After recalculating points, Russian skaters are now set to receive bronze instead.
Kamila Valieva’s Legacy and Future
Kamila Valieva, born in 2006, was once regarded as one of the most promising young stars in figure skating.
She had a meteoric rise, winning the 2021 Rostelecom Cup, the 2021 Skate Canada championship, the 2020 Junior World Championship, and the 2019-20 Junior Grand Prix Final.
However, her career took an unexpected turn with the doping scandal that has now left her legacy in question.
Despite the setback, many in the skating community and beyond continue to support her.
The debate over whether she should return her medals remains divisive, with some arguing that she was a victim of a flawed system, while others believe that fairness in competition must be upheld.
What’s Next for Valieva?
With her ban in place until 2025, Valieva will be unable to compete on the international stage for the foreseeable future.
The question now is whether she will attempt a comeback after her suspension or move on from competitive skating altogether.
Either way, her story remains one of the most talked-about controversies in figure skating history.
What do you think about Kamila Valieva’s situation? Should she return her medals, or is she being unfairly punished? Let us know your thoughts!
This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!
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