Vladimir Putin hits out over Winter Olympics doping scandal

President Vladimir Putin has defended controversial teen figure skater Kamila Valieva, insisting the 16-year-old could not have won Winter Olympics gold "dishonestly".

At February's Games Valieva became the first woman to land a quadruple jump in Olympic competition, helping the Russian team secure gold in the team event.

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It then emerged that she had earlier tested positive for trimetazidine, a drug used to treat angina but which is banned for athletes because it can boost endurance.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) allowed Valieva - who was 15 at the time - to continue competing at the Games, citing her young age, though without clearing her of doping.

In the individual final, Valieva fell several times and finished in fourth place.

The International Olympic Committee decided not to award any medals for the team event until Valieva's doping case has been resolved.

The Russian teen crashed out in the final event of the individual competition after going in as a gold medal favourite, with the CAS decision to allow her to compete dividing the sporting world at the time.

However, the Russian president claims no illegal drug could help Valieva achieve what he described as "perfection" on the ice.

"The whole country, figure skating fans all over the world, were especially worried about Kamila," Putin said during a televised meeting with Russian Olympic medallists at the Kremlin.

Valieva has "absorbed all the most complex elements of figure skating - its flexibility, beauty, power and tenderness... and with her work brought the sport to the height of real art," Putin said.

"Such perfection cannot be achieved dishonestly, with the help of some additional means, manipulations... we understand and know this very well," he said.

Valieva's case instigated questions over whether the minimum age for competitors in figure skating, currently 15, needs to be raised to protect minors.

Putin also said Russian and Belarusian Paralympians, banned from the Beijing Paralympic Games after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, was a case of discrimination based on nationality.

"The suspension of athletes from Russia and Belarus not only directly violated the fundamental principles of sport but their most basic human rights were... openly, cynically violated," Putin said at a ceremony with Olympians and Paralympians at the Kremlin.

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Russia's president also criticised the International Swimming Federation (FINA) for handing Russian Olympic gold medallist Evgeny Rylov a nine-month suspension for attending a rally backing Moscow's military intervention in Ukraine, calling the move "completely absurd."

Many international sports federations have barred both Russian and Belarusian athletes from taking part in international events over Moscow's military campaign in Ukraine.

Valieva's coach Eteri Tutberidze copped a raft of criticism in the aftermath of the teen's disappointment, with IOC president Thomas Bach admitting the "the tremendous coldness" the Russian athlete received from the coach was "chilling to see".

However, Valieva thanked her coaches - Tutberidze and Daniil Gleikhengauz - in a series of posts on social media after the Games.

“You are absolute masters at what you do! You not only train, but also teach how to overcome yourself, which helps not only in sport but also in life,” Valieva wrote alongside a photo of herself and her coaches at the Winter Olympics in Beijing.

“With you by my side, I feel protected and able to overcome any ordeals. Thank you for helping me to be strong."

In a separate message to fans, Valieva wrote: “I want to thank everyone who has been with me during this tough period: who was by my side and did not let me lose heart, who sent me supportive messages, who was just thinking of me, who prayed, who believed me and in me.

“Thank you, my fans, my family and friends, my coaches, the entire ROC team, my country, and people from all over the world.

“THANK YOU ALL!!!! I AM FOREVER GRATEFUL!!!! I will always remember this, be grateful to you and skate for you.”

with agencies

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