The Russian Ministry of Sports has not added figure skaters to the main national team roster to replace Kamila Valieva, who was disqualified amid a doping case, according to a source cited by RIA News.
“There have been no changes regarding the inclusion of anyone to replace Kamila Valieva,” the source stated, underscoring a pause in any immediate reshuffle of the squad.
On January 29, the Court of Arbitration for Sport issued a ruling that found Valieva guilty of doping violations and imposed a ban that prevents her from competing in events until December 2025. The decision also bars her from practicing on state skating facilities during the period of ineligibility, a constraint that adds to the disruption around her competitive schedule.
On February 7, CAS published its rationale for Valieva’s case. Beyond the mention of the prohibited substance trimetazidine, the document notes the presence of three permitted substances in Valieva’s blood: ecdysterone, hypoxene, and L-carnitine. The CAS filing further reveals that Valieva reportedly took nearly 60 medications and supplements during the 2020–2021 period, a detail that has shaped ongoing discussions about medical oversight and athlete welfare in Russian skating.
The consequences of the case extended to Valieva’s competitive outcomes from the 2022 season. She forfeited the gold medal won at the European Championships and the team event at the Beijing Winter Games, where teammates in the same team unit earned bronze medals. Additionally, Valieva relinquished the title of national champion for Russia as a result of the ruling.
Earlier, Valieva experienced a halt in receiving a presidential scholarship, a development that has fed into broader conversations about support structures for top athletes facing sanctions and investigations.