Russian figure skater Valieva competes 4 years on from doping case during Olympics

Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva returned to competition on Saturday following her doping ban, making a statement with a quadruple jump nearly four years after disputes over her positive test overshadowed the Beijing Olympics.

The 19-year-old Valieva was skating in the quarterfinals of the Russian jumping championships in Moscow.

She started with a quadruple toeloop jump to cheers from the crowd and qualified for Sunday's semifinals, as well as placing sixth in a “duets” jump event. The nationally televised event wasn't a typical skating competition, with points only for jumps.

Valieva cannot qualify for the Milan Cortina Olympics, where another Russian skater, Adeliia Petrosian, is a contender for the women's gold medal as an Individual Neutral Athlete.

Then aged 15, Valieva was at the center of a legal battle during the 2022 Beijing Games when a sample she gave two months earlier tested positive for the banned substance trimetazidine.

The revelation came after Valieva won team gold with other Russian skaters. She was later disqualified from that event, which upgraded the United States to gold. Valieva was a contender for the women's gold medal but placed fourth and was criticized rink-side by her coach, Eteri Tutberidze.

Valieva eventually served a ban which expired in December, despite long-running legal efforts to have it overturned, including at the Swiss supreme court last year.

Since the 2022 Olympics, rules have been changed to raise the minimum age for skaters to 17 in time for the Milan Cortina Olympics.

Also returning to action on Saturday was Alexandra Ignatova, who won the silver medal at the 2022 Olympics under her maiden name of Alexandra Trusova. She was competing for the first time since giving birth last year and didn't reach the semifinals.

AP Winter Olympics at https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics

Russian figure skater Alexandra Ignatova competes at the Russian Jumping Championships in Moscow, Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Pavel Bednyakov)

Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva competes at the Russian Jumping Championships in Moscow, Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Pavel Bednyakov)

Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva competes at the Russian Jumping Championships in Moscow, Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Pavel Bednyakov)

Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva warms up before competing at the Russian Jumping Championships in Moscow, Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Pavel Bednyakov)

LONDON (AP) — Enzo Fernandez's agent called Chelsea's decision to drop the midfielder “completely unfair” on Friday.

Fernandez was banished from the next two games — the FA Cup quarterfinal against Port Vale on Saturday and the Premier League match with Manchester City next weekend — Chelsea coach Liam Rosenior confirmed on Friday.

The sanction was in response to Fernandez telling a podcast this week that he would like to live in Madrid. There's speculation linking him with a move to Real Madrid even though he's contracted to Chelsea to 2031.

Fernandez's agent Javier Pastore said the Argentina international does not understand the decision.

“The punishment is completely unfair,” Pastore told The Athletic. "Banning the player for two matches, which moreover are also absolutely crucial for Chelsea because qualification for the Champions League is at stake and he is one of the team's most important players.

"There's no real reason or justification for why he has been banned. Enzo didn't understand the situation. When the coach told him he accepted it because he's a highly professional guy who's always fully committed wherever he is and respects decisions, but we don’t understand the punishment because he doesn't mention any club or say he wants to leave Chelsea, far from it. He only mentions Madrid, the city.

“Our plan after the World Cup is to meet with Chelsea again and, if there is no agreement, to explore other options.”

Rosenior said he was part of the club's decision.

“It’s disappointing for Enzo to speak that way. I’ve got no bad words to say about him but a line was crossed in terms of our culture and what we want to build,” Rosenior said.

“Enzo, firstly, as a character, a person and a player, I have the utmost respect. He’s frustrated because he wants us to be successful. The door is not closed on Enzo. It’s a sanction. You have to protect the culture, and in terms of that, a line was crossed.”

Fernandez joined Chelsea for a then-British record 107 million pounds ($142 million) in 2023 and was appointed vice-captain the following year.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

FILE - Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez holds the ball during the English League Cup semifinal second leg soccer match between Arsenal and Chelsea in London, Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)

Argentina's Enzo Fernandez celebrates scoring his side's opening goal against Mauritania during a friendly match in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Friday, March 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)