Alexander Zhulin, a renowned figure in Russian ice dance coaching, challenged the CAS ruling that sidelined Kamila Valieva for four years. He argued that the decision was unfair and not proportionate to the nature of the doping finding, striking at the heart of the dispute that has shadowed the sport for years. The coach suggested that such a severe consequence could effectively end Valieva’s competitive career, reflecting the high stakes involved when a quadrennial ban is imposed in figure skating disputes.
CAS determined that Valieva tested positive for trimetazidine in a sample collected at the Russian Championships on December 25, 2021. That specific result became public knowledge only during the 2022 Winter Games, when Valieva helped Russia secure a team victory, highlighting how timing and context can influence the public’s understanding of these cases. The suspension started from the date of the sample, yet CAS permitted her to compete in the individual event under strict conditions, including a prohibition on awarding medals at an official ceremony if she finished on the podium. Valieva led after the short program but faced a series of costly errors in the free skate, ultimately finishing in fourth place in the individual competition.
In Russian skating circles, Valieva has occasionally been used as a contrasting example alongside skaters like Elizaveta Tuktamysheva, illustrating how different career trajectories can emerge from similar moments of scrutiny and performance. This contrast underscores the broader conversations about talent, pressure, and governance in elite figure skating, especially when doping investigations, CAS rulings, and Olympic outcomes intersect in the public eye.