Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva breaks silence on Beijing 2022 doping saga

Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva has praised her coaches as ‘absolute masters’ upon her return home to Moscow from the Winter Olympics to a hero’s welcome.

The 15-year-old is at the centre of an ongoing doping scandal after competing at Beijing 2022 despite testing positive for a banned substance late last year.

The Russian Olympic Committee’s figure skating team event gold medal is still up in the air as a result.

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The saga could yet have far-reaching impacts on the sport, with governing bodies set to vote this year on lifting the minimum age from 15 to at least 17.

Russian and world anti-doping authorities are now investigating coaches, including Eteri Tutberidze, and doctors around Valieva.

The young athlete’s lawyers have claimed contamination from her grandfather’s heart medication led to the prohibited substance trimetazidine entering her system.

Tutberidze also came under fire for her treatment towards Valieva, described as “chilling” by IOC President Thomas Bach.

But Valieva, who was reduced to tears on multiple occasions during her events in Beijing, does not appear to feel let down by her Russian team.

“I want to thank everyone who has been with me during this tough period: who was by my side and did not let me lose heart, who sent me supportive messages, who was just thinking of me, who prayed, who believed me and in me,” the teenager wrote on Instagram.

“Thank you, my fans, my family and friends, my coaches, the entire ROC team, my country, and people from all over the world.

“THANK YOU ALL!!!! I AM FOREVER GRATEFUL!!!! I will always remember this, be grateful to you and skate for you.”

In a separate post written in