Alexander Tikhonov, a four-time Olympic biathlon champion, voiced his view that Kamila Valieva’s four-year disqualification was the result of actions by the athlete and her entourage. He expressed his stance in an interview with RIA News, outlining his belief that responsibility extended beyond the athlete alone.
He noted that politics often colors perceptions of Russian sports, but asked for clarity on how the drug entered Valieva’s system. Tikhonov highlighted that there have been more than 30 similar cases in biathlon, asking who has been held accountable in those instances. He argued that, in his view, not enough consequences have struck at those around the athletes, and that in Valieva’s case both the competitor and those surrounding her bear responsibility.
On January 29, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) issued a decision suspending Valieva for four years and nullifying the results from December 25, 2021. The ruling also revealed that Valieva tested positive for trimetazidine after Russia secured victory in the team event at the 2022 Winter Games. This decision had a wide impact on the standings and further complicated discussions about fairness and doping in elite sport.
Following CAS, the International Skating Union (ISU) on January 30 confirmed the new podium finishers for the team event at the 2022 Olympic Games in Beijing. With Valieva’s results canceled, Russia dropped from first place to third, while the United States claimed gold and Japan took silver in the team event. The ripple effects touched athletes, coaching staff, and national programs, underscoring the ongoing complexity of doping controls in high-stakes competitions.
There has been ongoing discourse in the United States and other countries about the interpretation of Russia’s performance in the 2022 Games, including debates about how medals were allocated and the broader implications for international competition. The case continues to fuel conversations about adherence to anti-doping rules, governance, and the responsibilities of athletes and their teams in safeguarding fair play on the world stage.