- The International Skating Union voted to raise the age minimum for figure skaters from 15-years-old to 17-years-old.
- ISU President Jan Dijkema called the new rules a "very historic decision."
- The move comes after then-15-year-old Russian skater Kamila Valieva was caught in a doping scandal at the 2022 Winter Olympics.
The International Skating Union voted to gradually raise the age minimum for Olympic figure skaters from 15-years-old to 17-years-old over the next few years, Reuters reported.
The minimum age for skaters will be raised to 16-years-old for the 2023-2024 season and will then increase to 17-years-old for the 2024-2025 season and beyond, including the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.
ISU President Jan Dijkema called the new age minimum a "very historic decision."
The move comes after then-15-year-old Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva was caught in the middle of a doping scandal that rocked the 2022 Winter Games.
It was revealed that Valieva tested positive for an illegal substance that can potentially boost performance, tarnishing her reputation in Beijing and threatening her the chance to medal if she were to score in the top three slots.
Valieva had already won gold in a team event with other Russian competitors, but that medal wasn't awarded as investigators probe the case. As of June — months after the Games wrapped up — the issue has still not been resolved and no medals have been handed out in the figure skating event.
According to Reuters, Valieva's case prompted a conversation about raising the age minimum, as past figure skating champions decried her coaching team for putting her in that position.
Skating legend Katerina Witt said on Facebook "As an athlete, you follow the advice of your loved ones and, in this case, always first of all the coaching and medical team. You just trust that they know what is right and what is wrong."
Witt had added that the adults responsible for the failed doping test should be banned from the sport for life.