Tatarstan minister says he will support Kamila Valieva's return

Tatarstan«s Minister of Sport, Vladimir Leonov, has stated that he supports figure skater Kamila Valieva, who has decided to return to professional sport following her disqualification. This was reported by RIA Novosti.

«She is an excellent athlete who found herself in a very unpleasant situation. We have always supported her and her family, so I simply want everything to work out for her. Especially since it»s a serious decision—to return to the professional track. We will support her and do everything required of us,« Leonov commented on the athlete»s return to the ice.

He said the Ministry of Sport of the Republic of Tatarstan is always ready to help the skater and is open to proposals for cooperation with her.

On January 25, Valieva celebrated the end of her disqualification following the doping scandal. She had begun training back in early November. The figure skater was also offered a spot in the new season of the Channel One TV show «Ice Age». She refused, as she currently plans to focus all her efforts on returning to professional sport.

Recall that the figure skater was suspended from competition on January 29, 2024, for violating anti-doping rules. Trimetazidine was found in the skater«s sample. There were several versions of what happened. According to the athlete herself, it was »contamination within the household,« as her grandfather was taking the banned medication. Valieva attempted to challenge the court»s decision, but she was nevertheless suspended for four years. Her Olympic victory in 2022 and other athletic achievements were annulled.