Choreographer Daniil Gleikhengauz, a longtime member of Eteri Tutberidze’s coaching team, spoke on the YouTube program Rink, which streams on the DobroFON channel. He described why he believes Kamila Valieva could return to competitive figure skating and why such a comeback would matter to audiences in Canada, the United States, and beyond.
He noted that Valieva’s return would feel like the universe exploding back into motion. A large audience is waiting for that moment, and to him the comeback would be a genuine, fairy tale chapter if she went on to win medals again. He emphasized that people view the sport as more than just results; it is about courage, resilience, and the possibility of redemption for an athlete who has faced intense scrutiny and public pressure from many directions.
In a decision issued on January 29, 2024, the Court of Arbitration for Sport found Kamila Valieva guilty of doping and imposed a ban from competition through December 2025. She is not allowed to train at state skating facilities during the ban. Personal awards were stripped, and in the team event at the 2024 Olympics the Russian team earned bronze medals instead of gold, reshaping the event’s historical narrative.
Later, on October 2, it was reported that Valieva’s appeal against the CAS disqualification was rejected. She is required to pay legal costs of seven thousand Swiss francs and to compensate eight thousand Swiss francs to both the International Skating Union and the World Anti-Doping Agency for expenses incurred during the proceedings.
There were also discussions in Russia’s State Duma about the challenges Valieva would face upon returning to competition. Lawmakers weighed the case’s impact on the sport’s reputation, the support systems for athletes, and the broader effort to uphold clean sport standards in winter athletics, seeking to balance state interests with the integrity of international competition.
The Valieva case has become a benchmark for ongoing debates about ethical competition, accountability, and the path back for athletes under scrutiny. For readers in Canada and the United States, it underscores the importance of clear eligibility rules and consistent enforcement across all levels of sport. As Valieva’s situation continues to unfold, coaches, federations, and fans are left weighing redemption against accountability, watching how the sport evolves under sanctions and public attention, and determining what standards will guide the next generation of skaters.