The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has asserted that Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva used trimetazidine as a medical treatment. This assertion was reported by the Times, which outlined WADA’s perspective on how the substance entered the athlete’s system during the concerning period of her testing. WADA’s account emphasizes that trimetazidine was prescribed as an intervention to address cardiac function, aligning with their understanding of Valieva’s medical history during the described timeframe.
The publication details an evidentiary narrative presented by WADA during the proceedings, proposing a sequence in which the athlete’s exposure to trimetazidine occurred as part of a broader effort to manage a heart condition encountered in athletes who train intensively. WADA contends that in 2020 Valieva was diagnosed with what has been described as a sport-related cardiac anomaly. This condition involves structural and functional changes in the heart that can accompany prolonged, high-intensity training and athletic demands, raising questions about the appropriate medical management and testing implications for elite competitors.
On January 29, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) imposed a four-year sanction on Valieva for violations of anti-doping rules connected to the presence of a prohibited substance in her bloodstream. The penalty period was stated to begin from December 2021, setting a clear timestamp for the disciplinary action within the CAS ruling. This decision reflected CAS’s assessment of the substance’s presence and the circumstances around the athlete’s conduct and medical history, highlighting the complexities of doping regulations amid high-profile athletes facing medical diagnoses and treatment decisions.
The outcome at CAS did not prevent Valieva from competing at the Olympic Games in Beijing, where she contributed to her team’s performance during the team event. Shortly after the Games, the International Skating Union (ISU) reviewed the competition results and subsequently opted to strip the Russian team of the gold medal in the team event. The ISU’s ruling underscored the ongoing debate over eligibility and results in the wake of doping-related rulings, illustrating how disciplinary actions can reverberate through Olympic outcomes and historical records.
Earlier statements from WADA have addressed questions about Valieva’s CAS proceedings, including inquiries into why the CAS verdict unfolded as it did. The evolving timeline underscores the tension between medical treatment decisions, athlete eligibility, and the enforcement framework that governs elite sport. It also highlights the careful consideration required when interpreting medical diagnoses, anti-doping rules, and the impact of legal processes on athletes, teams, and national sports programs. The broader conversation continues to explore how medical conditions intersect with performance, testing protocols, and the integrity of competition in high-stakes environments.