Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva has had her authorization to compete as a neutral athlete in international competitions revoked, according to a source familiar with the matter. This development marks a significant turn in Valieva’s career, following controversies surrounding her positive drug test during the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.
Initially, Valieva was granted neutral status under a new rule by the International Skating Union (ISU) for the current season. However, her status was later rescinded due to concerns about a potential violation of the criteria that disqualifies skaters from obtaining neutral status if they have expressed support for Russia’s actions in Ukraine.
Alongside Valieva, Russian men’s skater Mark Kondratiuk, who competed with Valieva at the 2022 Olympics, also had his neutral status withdrawn. Both athletes have appealed the decision to the ISU, with a final ruling expected by the middle of the following week. If the decision stands, they can further appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
The decision to revoke Valieva’s status was first reported by Russian media, with Reuters also covering the news. Valieva has not publicly commented on her current status. The ISU had previously barred skaters from Russia and Belarus in 2022 following the conflict in Ukraine, allowing only a limited number to participate in the Winter Olympics.
For the current season, the ISU has removed restrictions on the number of neutral athletes and introduced a presumption of eligibility unless proven otherwise. The ISU guidelines specify that skaters can be denied neutral status if they have military affiliations, have engaged in military operations against Ukraine, or have openly supported the conflict since 2022.
In a separate development, Valieva was embroiled in a doping scandal during the 2022 Beijing Games, where her sample tested positive for a banned substance. This led to her disqualification from the team event, resulting in a medal reshuffle that saw the United States claim gold. Valieva, who was initially a top contender for the women’s individual gold, finished fourth in the competition and faced criticism from her coach, Eteri Tutberidze.
Following a ban that ended in December 2025, Valieva has resumed competing in domestic Russian competitions. Notably, the minimum age requirement for skaters was raised to 17 ahead of the Milan Cortina Olympics earlier this year.
