What drug did teen Russian ice skater take?

A teen Russian figure skater has been at the centre of a doping scandal that’s rocked the sporting world. But one big question remains.

Russia's Kamila Valieva attends a training session during the Olympics. Picture: Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP

Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva has been at the centre of a doping scandal that has rocked the sporting world.

The 15-year-old athlete tested positive to the banned substance trimetazidine shortly before the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics began and was nearly sidelined before the Court of Arbitration for Sport granted her a reprieve on Monday. Its ruling was due to “exceptional circumstances” as Valieva is considered a “protected person” because she is under 16.

But one expert has questioned if the drug would have any performance enhancement for the teen.

While this has outraged the sporting world the question on everyone’s lips is what is trimetazidine and could it really help her win?

What is trimetazidine?

Trimetazidine is a medication generally prescribed to people with the coronary heart disease angina. This is a type of chest pain caused by reduced blood flow to the heart. The medication improves blood supply and oxygen to the heart by causing the blood vessels to dilate. This allows the heart to work more efficiently for longer.

Does trimetazidine really boost performance?

Theoretically, by increasing blood flow, it helps the muscles perform better and improves endurance. For this reason, it is banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) falling under the category of “hormone and metabolic modulators”.

However, there is insufficient evidence to show that the drug would improve athletic performance, exercise scientist and pharmaceutical specialist, associate professor Rhonda Orr told news.com.au.

Not only are there insufficient studies to prove trimetazidine would have given Valieva an edge on the ice, it is also easily identifiable in doping tests.

“If I was going to get a performance enhancing drug it is not the one I’d go for,” she said.

When is trimetazidine prescribed?

Trimetazidine us not approved for use in the United States, but is in some European countries. Yet even in the countries where it’s approved it is not a first choice due its many side effects.

What are the side effects?

There have been plenty of reported side effects including nausea, vomiting, fatigue, dizziness and muscular aches and pains. It has also been reported to in rare cases induce symptoms of Parkinson’s disease-like side effects such as tremors.

Russian teenage figure skating sensation Kamila Valieva was on February 14 cleared by the Court of Arbitration for Sport to continue competing in the Beijing Olympics despite failing a doping test. Picture: Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP

Why would a 15-year-old need trimetazidine?

There is no good reason why a 15-year-old should be on this medication unless she has a diagnised clinical heart problem, professor Orr said. Children are unlikely to get coronary heart disease and of the small number that do, there are alternative medications with less side-effects.

“Sometimes I wonder if they take these drugs out of desperation... it’s a gamble.”