Kamila Valieva controversy: IOC will 'initiate' talks on minimum age limit at Olympics after Beijing drama

The Kamila Valieva furore at Beijing 2022 has sparked discussions around a minimum age limit at the Olympics, IOC president Thomas Bach said on Friday. A distraught Valieva, 15, finished off the podium in the ladies’ figure skating singles on Thursday after an intense week and a half in the spotlight. Ad/> Valieva tested positive for banned heart drug trimetazidine but was cleared to compete by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), partly because she was a “protected person” due to her age.

Beijing 2022'I feel emptiness inside' — Shcherbakova after gold with Valieva, Trusova left in tears15 MINUTES AGO She started the free skate in the lead but a catalogue of falls and slips saw her drop off the podium. Her coach’s first words to her were: “why did you let it go? Explain it to me, why?” Bach said the IOC would consult the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and international sport federations before deciding if an age limit was appropriate. 'I feel emptiness inside' — Shcherbakova after gold with Valieva, Trusova left in tears 'Trusova looking angry' — Russian star very unhappy while tearful Valieva consoled «There are issues to be addressed,» said Bach at a press conference.

«This concerns the issues of minors in senior competition. We have already started in the IOC Executive Board to think about, but this needs careful deliberation and consultation on two fronts. »One is with regards to WADA [World Anti-Doping Agency], to see whether there is the need to adapt the rules.