After the Olympic scandal: the German Skating Union wants to raise the minimum age for figure skating

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Figure skater Kamila Valiyeva at the Olympics

Photo:

Peter Kneffel / dpa

So far, the minimum age for figure skating is 15 years.

From the point of view of the German Skating Union (DEU), the age limit is too low.

The association has advocated setting 17 as the new lower age limit.

"This would meet our goal of preparing our athletes for the highest difficulties with more foresight and a long-term perspective," said DEU sports director Claudia Pfeifer.

The discussion about too young participants in figure skating has been around for a long time.

At the Olympic Games in Beijing, she found a wide public: The then 15-year-old Russian gold favorite Kamila Valiyeva tested positive for the banned substance trimetazidine before the games.

The result became public on February 8 - a day after Russia's victory with Valiyeva in the Olympic team competition.

After that, the teenager was allowed to start individually after days of turmoil, also because as a minor she enjoys special protection under the code of the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada).

The reason given at the time was that this was the only way to keep “irreparable damage” away from Valiyeva.

However , the Russian athlete could not withstand the massive public pressure and missed out on a medal in fourth place .

A rule change is only possible with a two-thirds majority

It is questionable whether the DEU will get through with its proposal at the international level.

The International Figure Skating Union (ISU) wants to vote on gradually raising the minimum age from 15 to 17 at its annual congress in Phuket next week – “to protect physical and mental health”, as stated in a draft agenda by the world association called.

But a two-thirds majority is necessary for the change to take effect at the upcoming 2026 Winter Games in Turin and Cortina d'Ampezzo.

In any case, the age limit should only be raised slowly, for the coming season the existing regulation will continue to apply.

The emotionally cold treatment of Valiewa also caused a lot of criticism during the winter games.

After falling several times in the individual decision and leaving the ice in tears, coach Eteri Tutberidze severely criticized her underage protégé.

ARD expert Katharina Witt said in tears in the TV studio: »She is 15, she is a child.

You see her sitting there, collapsing.”

kjo/dpa