NINE days after being notified of a failed drugs test, 15-year-old Kamila Valieva finally fell apart in front of the watching world last night, finishing out of the medals following a dramatic Olympic women’s free skate.

On another evening of unforgettable drama Valieva, who started with a two-point advantage after Tuesday’s programme, fell twice and suffered a series of further errors to plunge to fourth place in the final standings.

Gold went to her Russian compatriot, 17-year-old Anna Shcherbakova, for a season’s best 175.75, taking her to a total of 255.95, just over four points clear of the third member of Eteri Tutberidze’s controversial Sambo-17 club, whose programme included no fewer than five quad jumps.