Johnny Weir says 'Thank god' that Valieva will not medal at the Olympics after she falls during performance

• ROC figure skater Kamila Valieva finished fourth in the women's singles figure skating event.
• The 15-year-old embroiled in controversy was allowed to compete despite failing a doping test.

Former Olympian Johnny Weir said "thank god" that Kamila Valieva — the 15-year-old Russian figure skater whose failed drug test has caused a scandal at the Beijing Winter Olympics — will not medal in the individual competition after she fell twice during her free skate.

As the scores were read, NBC commentator Terry Gannon noted that the embattled skater, who competed on behalf of the Russian Olympic Committee, had placed fourth after her falls.

Her shocking underperformance paved the way for the three medalists — ROC's Anna Shcherbakova, ROC's Alexandra Trusova, and Japan's Kaori Sakamoto — to enjoy a medal ceremony immediately following the event.

The International Olympic Committee had previously said that if Valieva had placed in the top three, there would not be a medal ceremony in Beijing for any of the women who earned medals. But with Valieva finishing in fourth place, the medal ceremony went on as usual.

"There will be a gold, silver, and a bronze medal in Beijing," Gannon announced.

"Thank God," Weir responded.

"Thank goodness for all the other medalists to have that moment," Tara Lipinski chimed in.

"And to have done it cleanly," Weir added.

After the scores were announced, Valieva buried her face in her hands and sobbed.

"And here's hoping there is someone to put their arms around that young woman and guide her," Gannon said on NBC's broadcast, his voice catching.

"This is devastating," Lipinski said.

"Heartbreaking," added Weir.

In a video posted to Twitter following Thursday's free skate event, Weir continued his commentary, saying it was the most "bizarre and heartbreaking event I've seen in my entire life."

"I hope it's never repeated," he said before thanking those who have supported the skaters.

Weir — an ex-Olympian-turned-NBC-commentator — previously said Valieva, who failed a drug test before the Olympics, shouldn't have been allowed to compete.

Valieva's eligibility to compete came under question last week after news emerged that she'd failed a drug test in December.

She tested positive for trimetazidine, a banned drug the World Anti-Doping Agency categorizes as a "hormone and metabolic modulator," according to The Associated Press.

When taken without proper cause, the drug can bolster endurance and improve circulation. Both effects could give a high-level figure skater a significant competitive advantage.

On Monday, the Court of Arbitration for Sport issued a ruling that lifted Valieva's provisional suspension and paved the way for the teen to participate in Tuesday's women's singles short program.

She finished that competition with a significant lead to cement herself as the favorite heading into Thursday's medal event.

Many close to the sport slammed the decision to keep Valieva in the field, especially after multiple outlets reported on Tuesday that Valieva had tested positive for two additional heart drugs in the December 25 sample she provided.

Only trimetazidine has been banned from the Olympics, but the other two — hypoxen and L-Carnatine — have raised concerns from anti-doping officials and called into question Valieva's lawyers' excuse that she'd mixed up her medications with her grandfather.

Despite all of the controversy, Valieva took the ice for the final skate of the event Thursday evening in Beijing.

She fell onto the ice following two separate quad jumps, resulting in significant deductions from the judges that ultimately kept her off the podium.