She stood at the top of the world, but now it is all being threatened to fall beneath her feet. Figure skating sensation, Kamila Valieva, has been accused of doping, which refers to the intake of an ability enhancing drug. Valieva holds many world titles, as well as the first woman to land a quad at the Olympics. However, this doping incident may very well be the cause of her fall from glory and be the end of her career.

According to reports, Valieva tested positive for Trimetazidine, a drug used to treat a heart condition known as Angina, which is a condition in which a person has chest pain due to poor blood flow to the heart. It is on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) banned list. However, the test was taken in December, which makes many question the relevancy of her test as she was not yet competing in the Olympics, and the drug may have been well out of her system.

Also, in Russia, Trimetazidine is known as medication for heart programs and is not necessarily referred to as a drug. Valieva had also participated in the 2022 European Figure Skating Championships, yet no reports of this test the month prior had surfaced.

Because the IOC has not yet released an official statement regarding her test results, no information that is available to the public has been confirmed. Therefore, the positive test results may even be simply a rumor that was spread out of proportion.

If the test was positive, there are many legal restrictions that may be enforced upon her due to her age as a minor. Valieva is only 15, and the possibility that she took the drug unknowingly is not unbelievable, especially with her coach, Eteri Tutberidze. Tutberidze is infamously known for the mistreatment of her students, and the possibility that she gave Valieva the drug is also possible.

This is not the first time that Russia has been accused of doping, as in 2017, the IOC banned Russia from the Olympics due to a drug scheme. Due to this, Russia has been called OAR in Pyeongchang (Olympic Athletes from Russia), and ROC in Beijing (Russian Olympic Committee). 

With the chaos of Valieva’s test being blown around the media, the 15 year old skater was found at the Olympic rink yesterday, practicing for the women’s short program. She has received the support of other Russian athletes and skaters on social media, but has not spoken publicly since the test rumors surfaced.

The IOC is anticipated to send out an official release within a few days and the final medal ceremony for the figure skating team event will take place. Either decision that is concluded will clearly cause an uproar, but as for the history-making teenager, her reputation is forever tarnished