Olympic figure skating could be gliding towards more controversy.
Adeliia Petrosian — the 18-year-old Russian, whose ties to a scandal-scarred coach threatens to put another harsh spotlight on the sport — quickly made herself a medal contender on Tuesday in the women’s short program after judges awarded her a career-best score of 72.89.
Petrosian is relatively untested, competing in just her second senior-level since her country’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
In was also in 2022, at the Beijing Olympics, that her coach, Eteri Tutberidze, came under scrutiny after 15-year-old Kamila Valieva failed a drug test — and was handed a four-year ban — resulted in the Russian Olympic Committee team being stripped of their gold medals.
Tutberidze has long served in the same role for Petrosian and Valieva, who also share the same coaching staff, choreographer and training site in Moscow.
Petrosian isn’t officially representing Russia, participating as a “neutral athlete.” And Tutberidze isn’t in Milan officially as her coach, but is listed in that role for a male skater from Georgia.
But Tutberidze was present for Petrosian’s practice session on Monday, “looking very much like her coach,” according to The Athletic.
Tutberidze was not found guilty by WADA and was never sanctioned for Valieva’s positive test. There is no known record of Petrosian failing a drug test.
“[The World Anti-Doping Agency] did not accredit the coach. It is not our decision,” WADA President Witold Banka said earlier this month.
“The coach is here. An investigation found no evidence that this particular person engaged in a doping process so there is no legal basis to exclude her from the Olympic Games.”But, of course, if you ask my personal feeling, I don’t feel comfortable with her presence here at the Olympic Games.”
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It is possible that the potential storm quietly passes and Petrosian doesn’t reach the podium.
But the performance of the three-time, reigning women’s national champion in Russia put her in position — with the unofficial support of a coach who has guided the past three women’s gold medalists in the event.
“I can tell you that none of us have any idea how she will do, and she doesn’t have any idea, either,” former bronze medalist/analystAdam Rippon told The Athletic. “But it’s kind of sad to think about that, if she does win a medal, how that will reflect on the sport.”
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