Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva has lost her approval to compete internationally as a neutral athlete, disclosed a source familiar with the matter on Saturday. This development marks a significant turn in Valieva’s career, following controversies surrounding her positive drug test during the 2022 Beijing Olympics.
Initially granted neutral status under a new rule by the International Skating Union (ISU) for this season, Valieva’s status was later revoked due to concerns over a potential violation of the criteria disallowing skaters from obtaining neutral status if they have shown support for Russia’s military actions in Ukraine. The same action was taken against Russian men’s skater Mark Kondratiuk, who competed alongside Valieva at the 2022 Olympics.
Both athletes have appealed the ISU’s decision, with a ruling expected by the middle of next week. Should the decision stand, they have the option to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The source requested anonymity as such case details are typically kept private.
The revocation of Valieva’s status was first reported by Russian media outlets, and Reuters also covered the news. Valieva has not publicly commented on her current status. The ISU had previously banned skaters from Russia and Belarus in 2022 following the conflict in Ukraine.
During the 2022 Beijing Games, Valieva, then 15 years old, faced a doping scandal when a sample she provided tested positive for a prohibited substance. This incident led to her disqualification from the team gold event, resulting in the United States being awarded gold and Japan silver. Valieva, a top contender for the women’s gold medal, finished fourth amidst criticism from her coach, Eteri Tutberidze.
After serving a ban that concluded in December 2025, Valieva has since participated in domestic Russian competitions. The minimum age requirement for skaters was raised to 17 ahead of the recent Milan Cortina Olympics.