Teen figure skating star Kamila Valieva breaks silence on ‘chilling’ doping scandal

Teenage Olympic superstar Kamila Valieva has broken her silence after the world had its say as her Beijing campaign was clouded by scandal.

It’s safe to say 15-year-old figure skater Kamila Valieva’s Olympic campaign didn’t go to plan.

The Russian teenager came into the Olympics expected to dominate the figure skating at the Games and won gold in the team event.

But that was when the scandal began as Valieva, the ROC team and the other medallists weren’t awarded their medals after someone had tested positive for a banned substance.

It was soon revealed Valieva was the competitor.

Russian newspapers RBC and Kommersant said Valieva had tested positive to Trimetazidine, a drug used to treat angina — a chest pain caused by lack of blood flow to the heart — but it was soon argued it was her grandfather’s medication she had accidentally ingested.

The world — particularly the US — erupted as Valieva was allowed to continue competing.

But after needing to go through a court case to even compete in the individual program as well as the criticism from across the world and expectation as the favourite to claim gold, Valieva fell several times during her free skate, ultimately finishing fourth.

US commentator Tara Lipinski said it had been unfair on Valieva.

“I can’t imagine how tough this has been on Kamila and it makes me angry that the adults weren’t able to make better decisions and guide her and be there for her because she is the one now dealing with the consequences,” Lipinski said.

“And she’s just 15 and that’s not fair. With that being said, she should not have been allowed to skate in this Olympic event.”

Valieva during the team event. Photo by Manan VATSYAYANA / AFP

It was a brutal free skate for Valieva. Photo by Kirill KUDRYAVTSEV / AFP

But now the Olympics are over and she is likely to need to fight the doping charges going forward, Valieva paid tribute to her coaches Eteri Tutberidze and Daniil Gleikhengauz. and her fans.

“You are absolute masters at what you do! You not only train, but also teach how to overcome yourself, which helps not only in sport but also in life,” Valieva wrote.

“With you by my side, I feel protected and able to overcome any ordeals. Thank you for helping me to be strong.”

It comes after her free skate when IOC boss Thomas Bach slammed her coaches for their reaction after her performance, as Tutberidze said: “Why did you let it go? Why did you let it go? Tell me.”

Bach lashed the reaction as “chilling”.

“When I saw how she was received by the closest entourage with such a tremendous coolness, it was chilling to see this,” Bach told a press conference.

“I was pondering about whether you can be really so cold but when I saw and read today how Alexandra Trusova was being treated, I am afraid that this impression I had last night was not the wrong one.

“All of this does not give me much confidence in this close entourage of Kamila.”

Valieva was devastated. Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

Australian chef de mission Geoff Lipshut also slammed the Russian’s treatment.

“The way we have consoled our athletes who haven’t met their performance expectations is a very different experience than to that of that young figure skater,” Lipshut said from Zhangjiakou on Saturday.

“The athletes are very much people first and sportspeople second.

“So when a young person hasn’t met their expectations and what they perceive to be the expectations of others, we – anyone involved in sport – really need to look after those young people.”

But Tutberidze responded to the swipe saying she was “baffled” by Bach’s assessment.

Valieva also took to social media to thank all her supporters.

“I want to thank everyone who has been with me during this tough period: who was by my side and did not let me lose heart, who sent me supportive messages, who was just thinking of me, who prayed, who believed me and in me. Thank you, my fans, my family and friends, my coaches, the entire ROC team, my country, and people from all over the world,” she wrote.

“THANK YOU ALL!!!! I AM FOREVER GRATEFUL!!!! I will always remember this, be grateful to you and skate for you.”