Rodnina: “Valieva’s exclusion from the national team is a natural procedure”

Three-time Olympic figure skating champion and State Duma deputy Irina Rodnina commented on the exception Kamila Valieva of the Russian figure skating team.

At the end of January, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) suspended Valieva for four years for violating anti-doping rules. The 17-year-old Russian’s suspension period begins on December 25, 2021, and her results have been canceled since that date.

— Any disqualified athlete goes through an exclusion procedure from the national team. Once the suspension period has expired, Valieva will be able to return if she wishes and meets the necessary criteria. And his exclusion from the team is a natural procedure,” Rodnina said, as quoted by RB Sport.

The court’s decision led to a review of the results of the team figure skating tournament at the 2022 Olympics, where the Russian team won. Valieva was also deprived of gold at the European Championship.

Valieva will be able to return to competition from December 24, 2025. The athlete previously stated that she never doped intentionally and always tries to follow the rules.

RB Sports