Tearful Kamila Valieva Skates Again At Olympics Amid Doping Scandal

Russian teenager Kamila Valieva skated at the Beijing Olympics for the first time on Tuesday since sport's top court cleared her to compete despite failing a drugs test, bursting into tears at the end of her performance. Wearing an off-shoulder purple dress, the 15-year-old was cheered by the crowd when she emerged to warm up on the ice for the short programme of the women's singles figure skating, in which she is the favourite for gold.

Valieva put in a clean performance but was emotional at the end of her routine.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled on Monday that she could carry on at the Olympics, but it does not mean that the Russian has been cleared of doping and she could still face punishment at a later date.

"These last few days have been very difficult for me," Valieva told Russian television on the eve of competition.

"I am happy but at the same time tired emotionally."

Starting to cry, she added: "These are tears of happiness, but also it seems sadness."

The CAS ruling was celebrated in Russia but provoked fury elsewhere, with the United States Anti-Doping Agency accusing the country of "hijacking" the Beijing Olympics.

It also put the spotlight once more on doping by Russian athletes, who are not allowed to take part at these Games under their flag because of a state-sponsored doping programme that reached its peak at its home 2014 Sochi Olympics.

The International Olympic Committee says there will be no medal ceremony in Beijing if Valieva comes in the top three of the singles event when it concludes on Thursday -- unprecedented in the history of the Games.

Valieva led Russia to team gold last week, before a Stockholm laboratory reported that she had failed a drugs test from December 25 for