Skating legends Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir gave curt analyses of Kamila Valieva's performance after slamming her eligibility to compete

• Russian skater Kamila Valieva is at the center of a doping scandal that's rocked the Beijing Olympics.
• Skating icons Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir condemned the move to allow the 15-year-old to compete.

Ex-Olympic figure skaters Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir — who are doubling as figure skating commentators for NBC Sports at the Beijing Winter Olympics — offered up some curt analyses of Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva's short program performance.

Despite stumbling on an early jump, the 15-year-old at the center of Russia's latest Olympic doping scandal skated well enough to earn a score of 82.16 and finish first in the competition. But even as Valieva teared up at the center of the ice upon completing the emotional performance that catapulted her into first place, the American broadcasting duo — who had previously slammed the decision allowing the Russian to compete — had little to contribute to the conversation.

"All I feel I can say is that was the short program of Kamila Valieva at the Olympics," Weir said.

Lipinski, meanwhile, expressed a range of emotions about Valieva's situation:

"I don't know how many times over the past year that I've said she is the best figure skater I've ever seen," Lipinski said after Valieva's skate. "And just saying that now not only makes me confused, it makes me angry... and disoriented by everything I thought that I knew."

And after the event concluded, Weir offered some pointed words about "the hardest event that I've ever had to cover" in a video posted to Twitter.

"I want to thank you all for supporting the skaters that should be in this competition, whose life's work is on the line," Weir said.

—Johnny Weir (@JohnnyGWeir) February 15, 2022

Valieva's eligibility to compete came under question last week after news emerged that she'd failed a drug test in December. She tested positive for Trimetazidine, a drug the World Anti-Doping Agency categorizes as a "hormone and metabolic modulator," per the Associated Press.

When taken without proper cause, the drug can help bolster endurance and improve circulation. Both effects could give a high-level figure skater a significant competitive advantage.

Valieva was initially slapped with a provisional suspension from Russia's anti-doping agency (RUSADA) after the positive test surfaced. However, following a swift appeal, the ban was overturned on February 9.

The IOC then challenged that decision in the Court of Arbitration for Sport. On Monday, the court issued a shocking ruling that lifted Valieva's provisional suspension and paved the way for the teen to participate in Tuesday's women's single skating short program.

Lipinski and Weir were extremely critical of the decision to allow Valieva to continue competing. They called the moves a "slap in the face" and a threat to the ideals the games are meant to represent.

"I strongly disagree with this decision," Lipinski told NBC's Mike Tirico. "Clean sport is the only thing that matters at an Olympic Games."

Weir told Tirico that he had to "condemn this decision with every ounce of my soul."

Despite the blowback she's faced, Valieva will move on to Thursday's medal event as the favorite to win it all. But the IOC will not allow her — or any other competitor — to collect their medals if the embattled star finishes in the top three.