Figure Skating Minimum Age to Be Raised to 17, in Time for 2026 Olympics

Figure Skating Minimum Age to Be Raised to 17, in Time for 2026 Olympics
Russia's Kamila Valieva competes in the women's short program during the Rostelecom Cup 2021 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating in Sochi, Russia, on Nov. 26, 2021. Dimitar Dilkoff/AFP via Getty Images
Reuters
Updated:

The International Skating Union (ISU) voted to gradually raise the minimum competition age for senior figure skating competitions from 15 to 17 after a debate at their congress on Tuesday.

The decision came after 15-year-old Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva tested positive for a banned substance last December but the test result was belatedly revealed during the Beijing Winter Olympics in February.