Kamila Valiyeva is among the figure skaters from Russia who were denied eligibility to participate as neutral athletes in upcoming international competition.
The International Skating Union (ISU) said Thursday that Valiyeva, as well as fellow 2022 Olympic skater Mark Kondratiuk, “no longer satisfy the requirements” for neutral status.
Russian pairs’ champions Aleksandra Stepanova and Ivan Bukin also do not meet the requirements.
Valiyeva, 20, was banned four years and had her 2022 Olympic results disqualified — including in the team event, elevating the U.S. to gold — after testing positive for a banned heart medication. Her ban ended last December.
In June, the ISU said that skaters from Russia and Belarus can compete in the 2026-27 season in a neutral capacity if they have not supported the war in Ukraine.
A total of 234 individuals have “submitted neutrality forms,” according to the ISU.
Skaters will not be approved if they: “are in active service with the armed forces or a national security agency of Russia or Belarus; have, at any time since February 2022, taken active part in military operations in the war against Ukraine; or have, at any time since February 2022, actively and publicly supported that war.”
Last season, select skaters from Russia and Belarus were approved to compete as neutrals in one qualifying competition for the 2026 Olympics and, if they qualified, at the Milan Cortina Games.
This season, neutral skaters are eligible for more competitions, including the top-level Grand Prix Series that starts in October.
Original Grand Prix fields came out before the June ISU ruling. Since then, one neutral skater, Vladislav Dikidzhi from Russia, has been added to a Grand Prix entry list (Cup of China).
