ISU Addresses Eteri Tutberidze Controversy with Skater Adeliia Petrosian at Milano Olympics
The International Skating Union (ISU) has addressed the mounting controversy surrounding Russian figure skating coach Eteri Tutberidze. This follows her recent presence alongside skater Adeliia Petrosian during a practice session at the Milano Olympics. Tutberidze has remained a controversial figure since the 2022 Beijing Olympics, where her former student Kamila Valieva was implicated in a doping scandal.
ISU Clarifies Its Position on Athlete Eligibility
In an official statement, the ISU underscored the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) role in overseeing athlete eligibility. The union emphasized that supervision of athletes at the Olympics falls under IOC jurisdiction. Tutberidze is recognized as a significant figure in Russian figure skating, holding Olympic accreditation through Georgia, where she coaches Nika Egadze, the country’s European men’s champion.
Petrosian’s Olympic Journey
Adeliia Petrosian, an 18-year-old skater, competes as a neutral athlete due to the exclusion of Russia from international sports following the nation’s invasion of Ukraine. She has participated in only one senior competition outside Russia in the past two years. That event, the Olympic qualifying competition in Beijing, secured her spot in Milan.
- Petrosian’s competitions:
- Women’s short program: Tuesday
- Women’s free program: Thursday
If successful, Petrosian could continue the trend of Russian athletes dominating women’s figure skating, becoming the fourth consecutive Olympic women’s champion from the Russian system, following:
- Adelina Sotnikova (2014)
- Alina Zagitova (2018)
- Anna Shcherbakova (2022)
Concerns Surrounding Tutberidze’s Presence
Tutberidze’s attendance has sparked criticism, particularly since WADA President Witold Banka expressed discomfort with her presence at the Olympics. Banka noted that WADA did not accredit Tutberidze and indicated that, while no evidence exists linking her to doping activities, he personally feels uneasy about her being present.
The skating community continues to reflect on the implications of the Valieva controversy. Valieva, a pivotal figure in the scandal, made history by being the first woman to land a quadruple jump during the Olympics. However, her success was later overshadowed when she tested positive for a banned substance, leading to significant repercussions for her and the Russian Olympic Committee.
Changes in Regulations
In response to the events surrounding Valieva, the ISU revised the minimum age for senior competitions from 15 to 17. The hope is that increased regulations will provide more oversight in the future.
As the Milano Olympics unfolds, all eyes will be on Petrosian and the controversy surrounding her coach. The intersection of sports, ethics, and athlete well-being remains a critical topic in figure skating.
