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'True Education' Kim Yuna also expressed anger as the subject of a doping controversy, receiving notice of expulsion from international stages... "Received official letter"

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Camila Valieva after finishing her performance in figure skating at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. /Photo=NEWSIS
Camila Valieva after finishing her performance in figure skating at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. /Photo=NEWSIS

This is truly 'true education.' Camila Valieva (20, Russia), the central figure of the doping scandal that turned the world upside down during the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, has been stripped of her individual neutral athlete status by the International Skating Union (ISU), effectively expelling her from international competition.

Global media outlet 'Reuters' recently reported, citing a reliable source, that "Russian figure skater Valieva has had her individual neutral athlete status revoked by ISU, the governing body of ice skating, and will no longer be able to compete in future international events."

According to the media, Valieva recently received an official letter from ISU containing the decision to revoke her neutral athlete status.

Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russian athletes were completely banned from competing in international events under their national flag. The ISU granted individual neutral athlete status only to a select few who passed strict identity checks and background investigations, allowing them to compete. If neutral athlete status is revoked, not only will participation in ISU-sanctioned events be blocked, but also the acquisition of world ranking points and challenges for major titles will be completely cut off.

Valieva was previously involved in a doping controversy after testing positive for trimetazidine, a medication for angina that contains a banned substance, during the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics when she was 15 years old.

Camila Valieva performing in figure skating at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. /Photo=NEWSIS
Camila Valieva performing in figure skating at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. /Photo=NEWSIS

Despite the discovery of the drug, Valieva insisted on competing, prompting even figure skating queen Kim Yuna to express strong anger. At the time, Kim Yuna stated via her personal social networking service (SNS), "Athletes who violate doping regulations cannot compete in events. This principle must be upheld without exception."

As a result of this incident, Valieva received a four-year suspension from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) as of December 2021. Russia's gold medal in the team event at the Beijing Olympics was abruptly stripped, and the United States, which had held the silver medal, inherited the gold.

Even amid the suspension, the Russian figure skating community did not stop its brazen actions. In particular, Valieva's coach, Eteri Tutberidze, attempted to circumvent the ban by entering the 2026 Milan-Cortina d'Ampezzo Winter Olympics stage as a coach for the Georgian national team, but was caught attempting covert coaching. Adelina Sotnikova, who won the gold medal over Kim Yuna following controversial biased judging at the 2014 Sochi Olympics, also faced criticism after mocking another country's athlete's mistakes during commentary.

Valieva also returned to the ice by competing in the Russian jump championships last February and even expressed her intention to challenge for the 2030 Winter Olympics amidst blind praise from local fans. However, with ISU abruptly stripping her of neutral athlete status, Valieva's dream of returning to international competition has completely vanished.

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*This content was translated by AI.

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