Winter Olympics: Kamila Valieva’s coaching team to be investigated by WADA

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has confirmed it will investigate the adults working with Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva –– who failed a drugs test prior to competing at this year’s Winter Olympics. 

Valieva tested positive for the banned substance trimetazidine in December, which is classed by WADA as a cardiac metabolic modulator and has been proven to improvise physical efficiency. 

The 15-year-old was tipped for women’s individual glory ahead of the Games and won team gold in Beijing on Tuesday. However, the Russian Olympic Committee’s medal ceremony was suspended because of “legal issues.” 

Valieva, who is the reigning European champion, will hear on Monday if she is allowed to compete in the individual women’s event on Tuesday. 

The International Olympic Committee called on WADA to investigate Valieva’s entourage and the anti-doping agency is now looking into coaches, doctors and other adults surrounding the Russian. 

Valieva is a Russian figure-skater, who is the current world record holder for the women’s short program, free skating and total scores. 

The teenager has set nine world records so far in her career and became the first female skater to ever land a quadruple jump at the Olympics earlier this week. 

Amid the ongoing investigation into her failed drug test, Valieva has continued to train, despite widespread media attention.

The Russian has been spotted training with coach Eteri Tutberidze, who is among those considered part of Valieva’s entourage. 

Tutberidze spoke to Russian state television briefly, where he stressed that the teenage prodigy was “clean and innocent.” 

Other coaches include Sergei Dudakov, Daniil Gleikhengauz and team doctor Filipp Shvetksy. 

All are from the Sambo-70 club,