Valieva Loses Neutral Status
International Skating Union Revokes Neutral Status for Russian Skater Kamila Valieva
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Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva has lost permission to compete as a neutral athlete, The Associated Press reported. The International Skating Union revoked her status over concerns she violated rules requiring skaters to not support Russia's war in Ukraine. Teammate Mark Kondratiuk, who competed with her at the 2022 Olympics, also had his neutral status stripped.
Valieva's Ban and the War in Ukraine
The ISU allows Russian and Belarusian skaters to compete as individual neutral athletes rather than representing their countries. But there's a catch: athletes must not have publicly backed Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The Associated Press reported that Valieva violated this rule, leading the ISU to revoke her standing.
Limited Comeback for Russian Skaters
After Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, the ISU barred all Russian and Belarusian skaters from international competition. Two years later, the union allowed a small number back as neutral athletes for the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics and a qualifying event. Valieva had made this comeback journey, but it has now ended.
Russian Media First to Report the Decision
Russian news outlets broke the story before the ISU made an official announcement. The decision signals the ISU's enforcement of its rules around political support for the war. Valieva's case shows the organization is taking violations seriously as it manages the sensitive balance of allowing individual Russian athletes back into sport.
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