Olympic speed skating champion and Russian State Duma deputy Svetlana Zhurova has advised figure skater Kamila Valieva to return the medals stripped from her due to a doping scandal, VseProSport reports.
Zhurova acknowledged that Valieva deserved her European Championship gold but argued that the controversy surrounding it taints the victory. She suggested that returning the medal would help Valieva move forward, emphasizing that fan support is more valuable than awards.
Earlier reports indicated that Valieva has yet to return her revoked medals. Her European Championship gold is set to be awarded to Anna Shcherbakova, while Alexandra Trusova will be recognized as the 2022 Russian champion. Valieva must also return medals from two Russian Championships, three Grand Prix stages, and a Grand Prix Final.
In January 2024, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) banned Valieva for four years after her December 2021 drug test revealed traces of trimetazidine, a banned substance. As a result, Russia lost its Olympic team gold from the 2022 Games, with other Russian skaters now set to receive bronze after point recalculations.