The "unprecedented" incident that even enraged Kim Yuna: Shocking update on the "Russian figure skating star," with her comeback match after a four-year ban also "confirmed to be canceled"... What exactly happened?

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

Camila Valieva (20, Russia), whose doping scandal during the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics shocked the world and even angered figure skating queen Kim Yuna, has had her official comeback match, which was scheduled to take place after a four-year ban, canceled due to illness.

The Russian media outlet "Sport" reported on the 16th (Korean time), "It has been officially confirmed that Russian figure skater Valieva will not participate in the Russian Grand Prix stage held in Kazan due to illness."

Valieva stated through her personal social networking service (SNS), "Dear figure skating fans and citizens of Kazan, unfortunately, I will not be able to compete at the Kazan Grand Prix stage due to illness," adding, "I hope you all take care of your health, and let us definitely meet again at another Russian Grand Prix stage."

The competition Valieva decided to skip is Rhapsody on Ice, the first event of the 2026-2027 Russian Grand Prix, scheduled to be held from the 17th to the 18th at the Kazan Sports Palace. It was set to be Valieva's first official comeback match after completing her four-year suspension, but she announced her withdrawal just before the tournament began.

The Russian edition of "Forbes" also reported on the 15th, "Valieva will not participate in the first event of the Russian Figure Skating Grand Prix held in Kazan due to illness." Alexander Kogan, Secretary-General of the Russian Figure Skating Federation, stated via TASS News Agency, "Valieva has been unable to compete in the tournament due to illness. The federation wishes her a speedy recovery and will wait for her return at the next stage."

She is the one who turned the figure skating world upside down. During the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, when she was 15 years old, Valieva tested positive for trimetazidine, a medication used to treat angina and a banned substance by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), sparking a fierce doping controversy. Despite the clear detection of drug use, her forced participation in individual events due to a Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) decision even led figure skating queen Kim Yuna to express unprecedented anger and criticism via SNS, stating, "Athletes who violate doping regulations cannot compete. This principle must be upheld without exception."

Ultimately, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) imposed a four-year suspension on Valieva in January 2024, and the team gold medal won by Russia at the Beijing Olympics was stripped and transferred to the United States. After her ban expired, Valieva left former coach Eteri Tutberidze and has been training under coach Svetlana Sokolovskaya while preparing for her return to the ice.

However, her path back to the international stage is already completely blocked. The International Skating Union (ISU) granted Valieva individual neutral athlete status in August but abruptly canceled it one month later in September. Her eligibility was revoked during a rigorous background check process that verified support for the invasion of Ukraine and military service history, effectively blocking her return to ISU-sanctioned competitions, including the Olympics.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original