Urge CAS to reinstate Kamila Valieva's neutral status to compete
The Issue
On September 20, 2026, Kamila Valieva broke down in tears following her free skate performance at the Russian test skates. It was a heart-wrenching sight, especially considering the stress she is currently under due to the International Skating Union's (ISU) decision to revoke her neutral athlete status. This decision not only blocks her from resuming her international skating career but also retraumatizes a young skater after the harrowing experience she already endured at the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing.
Kamila is a phenomenally talented figure skater. She has served her four-year ban with grace and determination and now deserves the chance to reclaim her place in the sport she loves. She has used her time away from competition to grow, train, and restore her enormous 4T jump. Fans from around the globe have waited four years to see her unmatched artistry and skill back on the international stage where she belongs.
The ISU's decision seems like blatant discrimination and a petty attempt to use this young athlete as a political pawn. Athletes from other countries are not subjected to this type of scrutiny when their governments act in ways beyond their control. This highlights a concerning double-standard in how Russian athletes are treated by the ISU. Kamila has complied with the criteria for neutral-athlete status: 1) The athlete must not be in active service with the armed forces or any national security agency of Russia or Belarus; 2) The athlete must not have taken an active part in military operations against Ukraine at any time since February 2022; 3) The athlete must not have actively and publicly supported the war since February 2022. Having your picture taken with a political figure as you accept an athletic award or training at a facility owned by the wife of a government official is not evidence of personal support for a military invasion. Yet these are the ridiculous leaps of logic made by the UFSF and the ISU.
We call on the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to recognize these facts and intervene. The CAS has the authority to challenge the ISU’s decision and reinstate Kamila Valieva's neutral status. This action is necessary to preserve the integrity and fairness of competitive sports and to allow Kamila to showcase her unique talents without prejudice.
Join me in signing this petition to urge the CAS to restore Kamila Valieva's neutral status and enable her to compete internationally.
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The Issue
On September 20, 2026, Kamila Valieva broke down in tears following her free skate performance at the Russian test skates. It was a heart-wrenching sight, especially considering the stress she is currently under due to the International Skating Union's (ISU) decision to revoke her neutral athlete status. This decision not only blocks her from resuming her international skating career but also retraumatizes a young skater after the harrowing experience she already endured at the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing.
Kamila is a phenomenally talented figure skater. She has served her four-year ban with grace and determination and now deserves the chance to reclaim her place in the sport she loves. She has used her time away from competition to grow, train, and restore her enormous 4T jump. Fans from around the globe have waited four years to see her unmatched artistry and skill back on the international stage where she belongs.
The ISU's decision seems like blatant discrimination and a petty attempt to use this young athlete as a political pawn. Athletes from other countries are not subjected to this type of scrutiny when their governments act in ways beyond their control. This highlights a concerning double-standard in how Russian athletes are treated by the ISU. Kamila has complied with the criteria for neutral-athlete status: 1) The athlete must not be in active service with the armed forces or any national security agency of Russia or Belarus; 2) The athlete must not have taken an active part in military operations against Ukraine at any time since February 2022; 3) The athlete must not have actively and publicly supported the war since February 2022. Having your picture taken with a political figure as you accept an athletic award or training at a facility owned by the wife of a government official is not evidence of personal support for a military invasion. Yet these are the ridiculous leaps of logic made by the UFSF and the ISU.
We call on the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to recognize these facts and intervene. The CAS has the authority to challenge the ISU’s decision and reinstate Kamila Valieva's neutral status. This action is necessary to preserve the integrity and fairness of competitive sports and to allow Kamila to showcase her unique talents without prejudice.
Join me in signing this petition to urge the CAS to restore Kamila Valieva's neutral status and enable her to compete internationally.
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Petition created on September 21, 2026