The 15-year-old Russian figure skater finished the single's short program in first place after news of a positive drug test came to light last week.
AP
Former US figure skater Adam Rippon slammed the decision to let 15-year-old Russian Olympic Committee skater Kamila Valieva compete at the Beijing Olympics after it was revealed last week she tested positive for a banned drug in December.
"Dirty cheaters, and we are accommodating them," Rippon — a bronze medalist at the 2018 Olympics in Pyeongchang — told Time.
"I don't know how the Olympics recovers from this," he added.
REUTERS/Damir Sagolj
Rippon, now a coach for US figure skater Mariah Bell, later called the women's singles short program a "bizarre event" after Valieva earned the first-place spot.
"So proud of my @MariahBell96 for dealing with this bizarre event with grace," Rippon tweeted Tuesday. "For me, the Japanese women were the very best tonight. Skating quality, interpretation, emotion. Thank you for being a light in an event that has a dark cloud hanging over it."
—Adam Rippon (@AdamRippon) February 15, 2022
On December 25, Valieva tested positive for Trimetazidine, a banned heart drug the World Anti-Doping Agency categorizes as a "hormone and metabolic modulator," per the Associated Press. When taken without proper cause, the drug can help bolster endurance and improve circulation.
Both effects could give a high-level figure skater a significant competitive advantage.
Valieva was initially slapped with a provisional suspension from Russia's anti-doping agency (RUSADA) after the positive test surfaced during the first week of the Beijing Olympics. However, following a swift appeal, the ban was overturned on February 9.
REUTERS/Evgenia Novozhenina
The IOC then challenged that decision in the Court of Arbitration for Sport. On Monday, the court issued a shocking ruling that lifted Valieva's provisional suspension and paved the way for the teen to participate in Tuesday's women's single skating short program.
Many close to the sport aside from Rippon slammed the decision to keep Valieva in the field. Rippon himself suggested that the only way to dissuade Russia and other bad actors from breaking the rules is "a complete and total ban from all international competition."
"It's heartbreaking to think about the athletes who have spent their lives training, but the Olympics took a big blow today and I don't know how it recovers from this," Rippon added. "A lot of people have lost faith in the Olympics and in clean sport."
AP Photo/Bernat Armangue
Despite all of the controversy surrounding her, Valieva took the ice Tuesday evening in Beijing, and despite stumbling on an early jump, she skated well enough to finish first in the competition.
Now, Valieva moves on to Thursday's medal event as the favorite to win it all. But the IOC will not allow her — or any other competitor — to collect their medals if the embattled Russian teenager finishes in the top three.
