Embracing no embarrassment is key.
In a recent development, renowned Russian sports commentator Dmitry Guberniev has weighed in on the ongoing doping controversy involving figure skater Kamila Valieva. Guberniev, speaking to Match TV, suggested that the extensive media coverage and President Vladimir Putin's interest in the case warrant immediate attention to Russia's anti-doping practices.
Guberniev expressed his concern, stating, "If even the president has noticed, then we should stop embarrassing ourselves and get our doping act together." He further added that the country's defense in this case was questionable, given the alleged involvement of unorthodox medicine, although specifics were not addressed.
Valieva, who tested positive for trimetazidine, a banned substance, was found guilty by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and given a four-year doping ban. This prohibits her from competing in international tournaments until December 2025 and training on public ice rinks. As a result, she was stripped of her individual Olympic medals, and the Russian team was demoted from gold to bronze in the team event at the 2022 Olympics.
Valieva's legal team has appealed to the Swiss Federal Supreme Court, accusing the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) of fraud. The lawyers argue that WADA failed to disclose the testimony of Professor Marcel Sogg, who, at the request of the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA), conducted an experiment to determine Valieva's possible guilt. Despite these legal maneuvers, Valieva has been active domestically, participating in ice shows and exhibitions.
Previously, Tatyana Tarasova had linked Valieva's Olympic ban to her case. With such high-profile scandals, there is growing international scrutiny of Russia's anti-doping compliance and a pressing need for reform in sports medicine to better manage doping issues, as signaled by Putin's recent comments.
This ongoing saga in the world of figure skating continues to be closely monitored by the sports community and international sports bodies. Valieva's future in competitive skating and her potential return to events like the 2026 Winter Olympics hinge on compliance with international sports governance and the outcome of her legal battle.
Guberniev's concerns echo in the sports community as he asserted, "If even the president has noticed, then we should stop embarrassing ourselves and get our doping act together." He further discussed the questionable defense of Russia in sports-analysis terms, suggesting the country's sequence of odd cases could be a reflection of inadequate anti-doping practices.
