Following incidents surrounding 15-year-old Russian figure skating star Kamila Valieva, the International Skating Union is moving toward raising the minimum age for Olympics and world championships skaters from 15 to 17, a source with knowledge of the matter said Saturday.
The source said preparations are being made to deliberate on the change at a June ISU meeting.
The International Olympic Committee and the World Anti-Doping Agency were unable to block Valieva from skating at the Beijing Games despite a positive drug test because of her age, and the skater was then berated by a coach after a poor free skate on Thursday.
The agency gives extra protection to athletes under the age of 16 in doping cases, which the Court of Arbitration for Sport leaned on in allowing Valieva to take part in the women's figure skating event.
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On Friday, IOC President Thomas Bach cited Valieva's case and her coach's tirade when recommending international sports federations consider requiring athletes be of a minimum age in senior competition.
Four years ago, another 15-year-old Russian Alina Zagitova won the Pyeongchang Olympics women's gold medal with extraordinary jumps, and a source with knowledge of the matter has said discussions about raising the sport's minimum age have been going on for some time.
