Kamila Valieva Doping Case: How Did the Drug Trimetazidine Jeopardize the Figure Skater’s Career

Kamila Valieva, the 17-year-old Russian figure skater faced an early success in her career, conquering the World Junior Championships and setting new records. Be it domestic, European, or the Olympic stages, the youngster had persistently presented her excellence in her domain. However, a doping test result, a few years into her international debut swirled up Valieva’s world and those around.

It was back in December 2021 when Kamila Valieva tested positive for a banned substance that anti-doping authorities and the industry placed the youngster under scrutiny. After years of discussions to land a decision, the Court of Arbitration for Sport announced that Valieva was on a 4-year ban, dismissing her competitive results alongside it. Here’s how it started.

A drug that caught the attention

Kamila Valieva was on the Olympic ice rink in 2022 when the details of her doping case were brought out. According to reports, the then 15-year-old had tested positive for trimetazidine, a heart medication that can boost endurance. As per Valieva’s legal team arguments, the medication belonged to her grandfather and Valieva ‘had inadvertently ingested‘ the same. The youngster’s lawyers posted the claim at CAS helping Valieva compete at the Olympic games and take the team to the top. However, that was the extent of it.

Though she had led the team enough to secure a gold, the ceremony was postponed due to the pending case. Today, two years later, the CAS alongside anti-doping bodies provided their decision to place a ban until December 2025 which would mean dismissing any results she has culminated since December 2021.

The World Anti-Doping Agency has categorized trimetazidine as a “hormone and metabolic modulator.” However, Dr. Anton Rodionov, a prominent cardiologist added that the effect of the drug on a 15-year-old elite athlete would be “smaller than small.” The numerous angles of the case thus elongated the case to provide a verdict over a 2-year-period. Though Kamila Valieva and team haven’t expressed their thoughts yet, the youngster has previously spoken of the difficulties.

Kamila Valieva fights through the doping case adversities

Kamila Valieva was a mere 15 year old when the doping case stormed her life. The legal case, the Olympic loss, and the scrutiny all around was a difficult space to take in. Nonetheless, a few months after the incident, the youngster took to her Instagram profile to speak her mind. “I believe that, like every person on earth, I deserve to be successful and happy… The main thing is not to stop fighting, not to give up, to believe in yourself and in justice.” 

Also Read: Robbed by Russian Controversy, US Olympic CEO Celebrates Kamila Valieva’s Doping Ban

Following the pending decision by the anti-doping bodies, Kamila decided not to give up and keep on her path. Through the next months, she got back on track and succeeded in adding a bit more experience for her career.

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