Teenage Russian skater’s doping scandal fuels debate over Olympic athlete minimum age

Star Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva’s Winter Olympics doping scandal has dominated the headlines. But it raises a bigger question.

The catastrophic fall from grace experienced by 15-year-old Russian ice skater Kamila Valieva this week has drawn attention to a sinister “multi-layered” Olympics problem.

The teen was leading the women’s free skate following her short program in Beijing, however delivered a disastrous finals performance after news broke she had tested positive to a banned substance in December.

The International Olympic Committee allowed her to complete her Olympics campaign, but concluded there would be no medal ceremony if she finished in the top three.

It would have been unfair for other athletes, the IOC said, given Valieva had returned a positive drug sample and the outcome of an investigation had not yet been determined.

“Should Ms Valieva finish among the top three competitors in the Women’s Single Skating competition, no flower ceremony and no medal ceremony will take place,” the IOC said.

An extra competitor was also added to the competition to account for the possibility of Valieva being disqualified.

Kamila Valieva fell several times in her final event. Picture: Kirill KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP

The mistake-ridden routine followed news of her doping scandal. Picture: Kirill KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP

Having suffered several falls throughout her final mistake-ridden program, she finished in fourth position behind two Russian teammates and Japanese skater Kaori Sakamoto.

The scandal has since cast a sad shadow over the competition, with Valieva’s case fuelling debate over whether the minimum age of athletes should be increased.

Prominent voices in the Olympic community have argued people considered children in the eyes of the law should not compete in events designed for adults.

The coach of gold medal-winning US ice skater Nathan Chen argued against young teenagers being allowed to compete in Olympic events.

“If you are skating in an adult competition, you should be an adult,” Rafael Arutunian told NBC Olympics this week.

A process to raise the minimum age from 15 to 17 has reportedly already been set in motion, with a Russian TV report revealing the International Skating Union intended to propose an Olympic age increase at a meeting in June.

The age change would only apply to figure skating, and would likely see “protected persons” rules under the World Anti-Doping Agency code removed, as it typically applied to athletes under 16.

Valieva was distraught after her final routine. Picture: Anne-Christine POUJOULAT/AFP

Valieva being consoled by her team after the final. Picture: Manan VATSYAYANA/AFP

It was that code that allowed Valieva to continue competing, as it voided her from being provisionally suspended under the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s rules.

Additionally, its protect people under 16 from being suspended in favour of being reprimanded, and frees them from investigation into how the drugs ended up in their body.

Included in the postposed changes set to be discussed in June will be a recommendation the minimum age be raised to 16 for the 2023-24 season and 17 for the 2024-25 season onwards, according to the publication.

The staggered rollout would avoid athletes already in the senior competitive system who would not meet the minimum of 17 in 2022-23 from being penalised.

The Norwegian Skating Association will propose a different standard that would apply across all ISU sports including figure, short track and speed skating.

Athletes would need to be at least 17 to compete in figure skating singles evens, and 16 for ice dance and pairs.

The association will propose that all changes take effect in the 2023-24 season.