Kamila Valieva, the Russian figure skater who faced a four-year suspension for doping violations, has appeared in a new travel-themed program called Route for Two. The outlet Championship.com reported on the development. The program marks Valieva’s participation in a project that blends travel storytelling with lighthearted exploration.
According to the plan, the episode featuring Valieva is set to be released on February 15 through VKontakte, the social network popular in Russia. In this installment, Valieva is shown visiting Tula, a city known for its historic architecture and local culture. The format invites the skater and her co-stars to discover locations connected to photographs captured two decades earlier, weaving a narrative of memory and place while offering glimpses into the region’s sights and traditions.
Valieva’s four-year ban from December 2021 remains the central context for discussions about her career. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) announced the sanctions, and the decision has continued to influence how her achievements and potential future participation are viewed within the sport’s community. The ongoing discussions emphasize the complexities of doping rulings in elite athletics and how they intersect with national and international competitions.
During her time with the Russian national team at the 2022 Olympic Games, Valieva helped secure a team gold in the event’s team tournament and finished fourth in the individual event. In the wake of the suspension, the International Skating Union (ISU) adjusted the medal standings to reflect the team’s performance, while still recognizing the broader results of the competition at large. The United States won the gold in the individual event, and Japan took the silver, underscoring the highly competitive field of Olympic figure skating that year.
Beyond Valieva’s case, the broader Russian figure skating program has faced scrutiny and debate. Prominent coaches and program leaders have navigated the repercussions of doping investigations and their impact on athletes’ careers, national championships, and international perception. The narrative around these events continues to evolve as governing bodies pursue updates to rules, testing protocols, and the balance between sanctioning misconduct and supporting athletes who remain affected by past decisions.
In this context, commentators note that the sport’s integrity depends on transparent, consistent enforcement and on ensuring that athletes have access to appropriate support, rehabilitation, and opportunities to compete when eligible. The Route for Two project is presented as a separate entertainment channel that may influence public sentiment by offering a window into the lives of skaters outside the rink, while still being mindful of the sport’s ongoing governance and disciplinary framework. Cited reports provide additional context for viewers seeking to understand how doping rulings interact with career trajectories and media narratives. [Source: Championship.com]