Vyacheslav Fetisov, a two-time Olympic hockey champion, voiced support for Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva amid her four-year ban for anti-doping violations. His stance was shared with Sports Express, reflecting his concern for an athlete who he believes was not fairly treated.
Fetisov expressed genuine remorse that the rights of a young competitor might not have been fully safeguarded. He conveyed support for Valieva and emphasized that she did not bear responsibility for the issues that have surrounded her case. In his view, the current situation has been deeply painful to witness, and he admitted that he himself struggles to find words that could comfort a skater facing such a harsh setback.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled that Valieva would be barred from competition for four years starting December 25, 2021, after traces of trimetazidine, a prohibited substance, were detected in a sample collected at the Russian Championships. The positive result only became widely known during the 2022 Olympic Games, following Russia’s triumph in the team event.
Despite the sanctions, CAS allowed Valieva to compete in the individual event under strict conditions, including a stipulation that the medal ceremony would not take place if she won a medal. She led after the short program but encountered several significant errors in the free skate, which ultimately left her in fourth place overall.
Looking ahead to the medals from the Olympic team event, the decision rests with the International Skating Union Council, with a meeting scheduled for February 7. If the Russian squad were to lose the top podium position, the gold would be awarded to the United States, Japan would receive silver, and Canada would earn bronze, subject to ISU deliberations and the broader outcomes of the case.
The Kamila Valieva case has been a focal point in discussions within Russia’s political and sporting communities, drawing attention from observers worldwide. It has prompted debates about athletes’ rights, the enforcement of anti-doping rules, and the complex pressures faced by young competitors on the international stage. In North America, audiences are closely watching how the case might influence future eligibility decisions, the handling of doping investigations, and the evolving guidelines that govern youth athletes competing at the highest level. The broader conversation touches on how national teams respond to sanctions, how governing bodies balance fairness with the protection of young talent, and what lessons may be drawn for future generations of skaters.