Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva has given a public vote of confidence to the coach accused of ‘chilling’ mistreatment of her at the Winter Olympics.
Thomas Bach, all-powerful president of the International Olympic Committee, hit out at the “tremendous coldness” shown by the 15-year old’s entourage after the pressure of performing with a failed drugs test hanging over her proved too much in Beijing.
But Valieva, now back in Moscow, defended controversial coach Eteri Georgievna Tutberidze on social media.
“My first Olympiad is finally over and I want to thank those who led me to this most important event in an athlete’s life - my coaches Eteri Georgievna, Sergei Viktorovich, Daniil Markovich,” she wrote on Instagram.
“And I would like to thank those who lead me to this important event in my life - my coaches Eteri Georgievna, Sergei. You are absolute masters in your field!
“You not only train, you also learn to overcome yourself, which helps not only in spirit but in life.
“With you near me I feel protected and able to face any challenge. Thank you for helping me be strong. I’m going to be a good one.”
Valieva, the best female figure skater the sport has ever seen, helped the Russian Olympic Committee win team gold before the result of a drugs test, taken on Christmas Day, was made known. It showed she had tested positive for the heart drug trimetazidine.
The awarding of Team medals was immediately postponed but the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled she should still be able to compete in the individual event, albeit with the proviso that she may later be stripped of any medals once her case is judged.
The youngster now awaits the outcome of that disciplinary procedure to learn whether she will be stripped of that title and banned.
Given her age and the fact the offence was committed two months before the Games, it could be decided that her Beijing performances be allowed to stand.
