Sport · Singapore Bureau
ISU strips Valieva of neutral status, barring international competition
Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva has been rendered ineligible to compete internationally after the sport's governing body revoked her neutral athlete designation. The International Skating Union's decision marks a significant development in the career of the skater who faced doping allegations in recent years.
LSN Singapore ·
The International Skating Union (ISU) announced on Thursday that it had withdrawn neutral athlete status from Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva, effectively preventing her from competing in international competitions. The revocation of her eligibility represents a major setback for the athlete, who had been permitted to compete under neutral status despite Russia's suspension from international sports following its invasion of Ukraine.
Neutral athlete status had allowed Valieva to participate in ISU-sanctioned events without representing Russia directly. The withdrawal of this classification leaves her unable to compete in international tournaments governed by the sport's regulatory body.
The decision comes amid ongoing scrutiny of Valieva's career. The skater faced a doping investigation after testing positive for a banned substance at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, though she was initially permitted to compete. The case had raised significant questions about athlete welfare and anti-doping protocols in figure skating.
The ISU has not yet provided detailed public comment regarding the specific grounds for revoking Valieva's neutral status, though the decision underscores the governing body's enforcement of eligibility rules for international competition.