Beijing Tacitly Welcomes Media Spotlight on Russian Olympic Doping Case

There is more behind Russian figure skater drug drama than meets the eye

A huge electronic billboard shows a photo of Kamila Valieva with words "Kamila, we are with you" on the building of the Salut hotel in Moscow, Russia, on Feb. 14, 2022. Russian teenager Kamila Valieva has been cleared to compete in the women's figure skating competition at the Winter Olympics despite failing a pre-Games drug test. Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP Photo

News Analysis

Reporting of a positive drug test by Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva is welcome news to Chinese state media. The latter have been working hard to deflect from any reporting on human rights abuses taking place in the country.