Russian ice skater Kamila Valieva’s drug claim after Olympic win

The legal team for a teen Russian ice skater have revealed the unlikely explanation for her positive drugs test. But not everyone is buying it.

Russia's Kamila Valieva reacts after competing in the women's single skating short program of the figure skating event during the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games at the Capital Indoor Stadium in Beijing on February 15, 2022. (Photo by Manan VATSYAYANA / AFP)

Scandal-embroiled Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva’s legal team have claimed that her positive drugs test resulted from drinking from the same glass as her grandfather, which contained traces of his heart medication.

The claims were made just as Valieva skated into the top position of Tuesday’s qualifying event. Despite a small stumble at the beginning of her routine, she went on to achieve the leading score of 82.16, beating her fellow Russian, Anna Shcherbakova who recorded 80.20. Valieva was visibly upset at the end of her routine, crying as she left the ice.

Russia's Kamila Valieva reacts after competing in the women's single skating short program of the figure skating event during the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games at the Capital Indoor Stadium in Beijing on February 15, 2022. (Photo by Manan VATSYAYANA / AFP)

Despite the 15-year-old Russian’s explanation for her positive test, others were not convinced.

US figure skater, Adam Rippon, who won Olympic bronze four years ago and now coaches Valieva’s competitor Mariah Bell took to Twitter to voice his displeasure.

“As an athlete I sat through USADA presentations where we were discouraged from taking a multivitamin. When we get sick we avoid cold medicine. When we are in pain we avoid creams and other topicals that might have ‘something’ in them.”

If your only defense of this doping scandal is “do you really think everyone else is clean” that is the problem. You assume everyone is cheating when they are not. They are competing clean. In the US if you fail a doping test you are out, plain and simple.

— Adam Rippon (@AdamRippon) February 15, 2022

Many commentators compared Valieva’s doping explanation to Sha’Carri Richardson’s who was barred from the Tokyo Games after a positive cannabis test after smoking a joint when her mother died. Journalist Jarrett Bellini commented, “Said her grandfather, ‘thank god she didn’t find my OG Kush’”.

Can we get a solid answer on the difference of her situation and mines? My mother died and I can’t run and was also favored to place top 3. The only difference I see is I’m a black young lady. https://t.co/JtUfmp3F8L

— Sha’Carri Richardson (@itskerrii) February 14, 2022

Despite the banned substance, Kamila Valieva is going to skate. She’s going to win. Russia is going to cheat. This time. Next time. All the time. https://t.co/Y4kyc7nJPV

— Dan Wetzel (@DanWetzel) February 14, 2022

Football presenter Gary Lineker waded in as well.

“Memo to sportspeople: don’t go into your grandad’s medicine cabinet and take his heart drugs. I know, we’ve all done it.”

Memo to sportspeople: don’t go into your granddad’s medicine cabinet and take his heart drugs. I know, we’ve all done it. https://t.co/9p0JUFnDM3

— Gary Lineker 💙 (@GaryLineker) February 15, 2022

Despite the international response, Valieva now goes into Thursday’s individual free skating event as the favorite for gold. Should she come in the top three, the International Olympic committee says there will be no medal ceremony in Beijing.