Athletistic/ Figure skating. One of the main Russian stars of figure skating at the turn of 2021 and 2022 was Kamila Valieva. The athlete showed exceptional results from start to finish. She became Russian champion and European champion and was in excellent shape for the Olympic Games. In the team tournament, Valieva helped the Russian team win gold. However, after that his doping sample from the Russian Championship in St. Petersburg was checked. She tested positive.

For a long time, an investigation was carried out against Kamila Valieva. At the end of 2023, several CAS hearings took place. The court delivered its final verdict this Monday, January 29. The athlete was found guilty of violating anti-doping rules and disqualified for four years. She lost the titles of Russian champion and European champion. They passed to Alexandra Trusova and Anna Shcherbakova, respectively. In the team tournament of the 2022 Olympic Games, after the cancellation of Kamila Valieva’s result, the Russian team rose to third place. Thus, Mark Kondratyuk, Anastasia Mishina and Alexander Gallyamov, as well as Victoria Sinitsina and Nikita Katsalapov will receive bronze medals.

At the same time, a positive doping test was taken on December 25, 2021. It is from this date that disqualification begins. It will end on December 25, 2025. In this regard, many are talking about Kamila Valieva’s chances of participating in the 2026 Milan Olympics if Russian athletes are allowed to participate.

Selection for the Olympic Games is done through the Russian Championship

Often, it is based on the results of the Russian Figure Skating Championship that the decision is made about who will represent the country at the European Championships, World Championships and the Olympic Games. However, in recent years it most often takes place in the first half of the last ten days of December. So, it is not known whether Kamila Valieva will have time to participate. The championship is unlikely to suit him personally.

It is unclear what form Kamila Valieva will be in after no competition

Of course, Kamila Valieva will be able to train during her disqualification. We’ll probably see her in the series as well. However, competitions remain one of the main drivers for the implementation of certain actions. It is based on the results of the competition that the coach and athlete can determine what needs to be improved or changed. Since Kamila Valieva will be deprived of it, it is difficult to immediately understand whether she will be ready to immediately win the Russian Championship.

Russia could have smaller quota after returning to international competitions

Recently, before being excluded from international competitions, Russia had a good quota. Three participants could compete in each discipline, including women’s singles. However, the absence of competitions under the auspices of the ISU affects the ranking. So, if the 2025/2026 season is the first on the international stage, there is a high chance that only one Russian figure skater will be able to make it to the 2026 Olympics. Most likely, it will be the champion of Russia.

Strong competition and presence of a large number of talented skaters

Recently, Kamila Valieva, although she was often one of the favorites of the competition, still lost the leading position to someone else. For example, at the 2023 Russian Championship she was defeated by Sofia Akatieva, and in the final of the Russian Grand Prix and the next national championship she was defeated by Adelia Petrosyan. In addition, Sofya Muravyova shows very good results. Of course, many would like to see Kamila Valieva’s epic return to the international stage. However, if conditionals Adelia Petrosyan or Sofya Muravyova are ready for great achievements, they cannot be deprived of them.

The fighting character of Kamila Valieva

However, throughout this story, Kamila Valieva showed courage and character. She continued to train and competed in individual competitions at the Beijing Olympics despite pressure from the press and some other athletes. She even came first in the short program. Still in the 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 seasons, she participates in competitions and occupies high places. Thus, it is possible that, thanks to her qualities, the skater can get in shape for the 2026 Russian Championships and qualify for the Milan Olympics.

Today we do not know whether Russians will be allowed to participate in the Olympic Games in Milan and in what status this will happen. However, it must be said that Kamila Valieva has a chance of qualifying and not going. However, most theses say that if there is only one ticket to Italy, it will most likely go to someone else. After all, we cannot relegate other skaters to the background.

Yaroslav Piatykh, Athletistic


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