Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva leaves Winter Olympic rink in tears as doping defence revealed

It may have ended in tears but controversial Russian teenager Kamila Valieva is still in sight of another potential Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics gold after topping the women’s figure skating short program.

The enormous pressure and scrutiny on the 15-year-old at the centre of the latest Olympic doping scandal appeared to finally take its toll on Tuesday night.

Watch the controversial skater’s tearful routine in the video above

She stumbled on her opening triple axel and left the ice in tears after her routine, barely holding it together while she awaited her scores.

She wound up earning 82.16 points, more than eight off her own world record, but more than enough to top the field.

Russian teammate Anna Shcherbakova, the reigning world champion, was second with 80.60 points followed by Japan’s Kaori Sakamoto (79.89pts).

Russian Alexandra Trusova (74.60pts) was fourth.

Valieva did not speak afterward, walking through the mixed zone of reporters in stoic silence.

The three Russians, all coached by the embattled Eteri Tutberidze, are trying to deliver the second podium sweep in Olympic figure skating and the first in the women’s competition.

The free skate, which will decide the medals, is on Thursday night.

Valieva is the clear favourite but if she finishes in the top three, no medals will be awarded, with the podium put on hold until the full investigations into the Russian’s doping case have concluded.

The International Olympic Committee, concerned that she could still be banned after a full doping case, said it would instead “organise dignified medal ceremonies” in the future.

The teenager, who was cleared to compete by sport’s top court despite testing positive for a banned heart drug, will not have her case resolved