The minimum age for figure skating came into focus during the Beijing Olympics when 15-year-old Kamila Valleeva was allowed to do doping in order to continue competing.
Now the age limit has been raised to the highest level from 15 to 17, according to Agence France-Presse.
The decision was voted on Tuesday at the International Ski Federation (ISU) conference in Phuket, Thailand.
– It is a historic decision, says ISU President Jan Dijkima, according to AFP.
100 countries voted in favor of the resolution, while 16 countries opposed it.
There was a proposal to raise the minimum age for runners in the adult category from 15 to 17 at the ISU table when the doping scandal erupted during the Olympics.
Young Russian shooting star Camila Valeeva has been arrested for doping in Beijing. She was suspended but after an appeal she was allowed to participate in the women’s competition, in part due to her young age. The investigation into steroids is not yet complete.
Helena Rosen Andersen, president of the Swedish Figure Skating Federation, said last week that Sweden would vote to increase the age limit.
Josephine Tallegaard, who took part in the Olympics for Sweden, also advocates a higher age. During the Olympics she was asked the same question but then answered that it was a difficult question because there can be better outcomes in the junior water cycle than in the upper water cycle.
– But now I think more about it and I think it’s positive with a higher age limit. Because I support that, we have to have a sustainable sport and be able to last for a long time, Tallegaard told TT last week.