Vladimir Putin has defended figure skating star Kamila Valieva two months on from her doping case at the 2022 Winter Olympics, as well as slamming recent sport bans on Russian athletes. Valieva was part of the Russian team that won gold in the figure skating event at the Games, however her ongoing case has meant they are yet to be presented with their medals.
The Russian teenager’s positive case came to light during the Winter Olympics in February, however the Court of Arbitration for Sport allowed her to continue to compete with the investigation ongoing. Despite her team success, the scandal clearly affected her in the individual event after struggling in her final routine.
In a televised ceremony, president Putin presented Valieva with a state award following her success in Beijing, with the 16-year-old revealing it was a ‘big honour’.
