Kamila Valieva has been at the epicenter of controversy since the young age of 15. The talented ice skater was accused of using a drug called trimetazidine (TMZ) to enhance her performance during the 2022 Winter Olympics, leading to a whirlwind of drama and a protracted legal battle. However, in a ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), the now-17-year-old has been banned from the sport for four years.

Furthermore, the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) has been stripped of its gold medal in the team event at the 2022 Beijing Winter Games, leading to a downgrade to bronze. This move stirred up the sports community. And now, days after this ruling, the 17-year-old Russian figure skating icon, Kamila Valieva, has broken her silence.

Kamila Valieva finally speaks up after the ruling

In the wake of the developments, Kamila Valieva has broken her silence on Instagram stories. The 17-year-old star shared an image of a billboard that had her picture on the huge hoarding and the words “КАМИЛА, ТЫ НАША ЗОЛОТАЯ!!!” printed on it, which translates to “KAMILA, YOU ARE OUR GOLD!!!” She wrote alongside the story, “Спасибо всем, кто рядом; всем, кто поддерживает,” which translates to, “Thanks to everyone who is nearby; to everyone who supports.” 

After Kamila Valieva was banned from the sport of figure skating for four years, beginning on December 25, 2021, the World Anti-Doping Agency President Witold Banka stated, “Anyone who dopes children should be in prison.” However, while many lauded the move, in Russia, some people are upset and believe the decision is unfair. Dmitry Peskov, Vladimir Putin’s press secretary, even said, “Of course, we don’t agree with this,” and shared that he felt the decision was influenced by politics.

Read more: Kamila Valieva’s Teammate Cuts Ties With ‘Cruel’ Russian Coach Two Years After Praising Her At Beijing Olympics

While the debate about her innocence continues to intrigue the sports world, fans of the star remain steadfast in their support. The hoarding in her Instagram stories was a testament to this support. As Kamila Valieva’s suspension extends until December 2025, fans of the figure skating sensation stand in solidarity, hopeful for her eventual return to the sport.

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