Adam Rippon says he doubts Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva 'knowingly doped': 'The adults completely failed her'
- Adam Rippon has spoken out about Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva and the doping scandal.
- Rippon, 32, blamed the adults in Valieva's circle for the positive drug test.
The former Olympic figure skater Adam Rippon said he doubts that Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva "knowingly doped" ahead of the Beijing Games.
In an interview with NPR's Tom Goldman, the former US Olympic figure skater shared his thoughts about the scandal surrounding the 15-year-old athlete. Rippon, 32, won a bronze medal on the American figure skating team in 2018.
"The saddest part [about the doping scandal] is that as a sport, and people who are fans of the Olympics, we want to celebrate that. That's amazing. The way that Kamila Valieva was able to skate in that team competition is amazing," Rippon told the outlet.
He continued: "Every program she did, I was one of the first people to stand up because I was in awe of what I was seeing. And, they ruined that. They ruined that for her, and they ruined it for all of us who really were so excited that there was this incredible talent."
When asked who "they" were, Rippon clarified that he was referring to the adults in Valieva's life.
"The adults around her. Valieva is 15. I doubt very much she knowingly doped. She's a minor. The adults completely failed her," Rippon said.
Rippon's statements to NPR echoed a lengthy Twitter thread he posted about the situation on Friday. In the thread, Rippon said he believed the adults around Valieva "put her in this awful situation and should be punished."
"The IOC's ban on Russia's participation in the Olympics was NOT strict enough. I believe that the ROC athletes are doing what they're told in an effort to please their coaches and federation. I blame those in charge. Flops," Rippon tweeted.
He added: "They put her sport performance ahead of her health and well-being. Fuck them. They've ruined this Olympic experience for HER and for EVERYONE here. The ROC has miserably failed its athletes and embarrassed themselves on the world stage YET AGAIN. My heart breaks for the Russian athletes competing in Beijing who will have everything they do at this Olympics questioned."
Representatives for Rippon did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.
On Monday, Valieva became the first woman to successfully land a quadruple jump at the Olympics after nailing the trick twice during the free skate event. Valieva's efforts helped Russia win the gold medal in the team figure-skating competition ahead of the USA and Japan.
But by Wednesday, several media outlets reported that a member of the Russian Olympic Committee's figure-skating team tested positive for the banned substance trimetazidine, a medication used to prevent angina attacks. Athletes have used the substance as a way to improve their endurance, and the World Anti-Doping Agency has listed trimetazidine as a "metabolic modulator."
While speculation brewed, the International Testing Authority confirmed in a statement that Valieva had tested positive for the substance in a December 25 sample, though the results weren't revealed until February 8. Valieva was immediately suspended, the Russian Anti-Doping Agency then reversed her suspension, and the International Olympic Committee then appealed the decision.
CNN reported that the Court of Arbitration for Sports would hold a hearing on Sunday regarding the matter. A decision is expected on Monday.
As of Saturday, Valieva had not been barred from competing in the upcoming women's individual event, and it was unclear whether she would face consequences. The medal ceremony for the team figure skating competition had been scheduled for Tuesday, but was canceled amid the scandal.