The International Skating Union issued a pre-emptive statement on Monday, after controversial Russian figure skating coach Eteri Tutberidze appeared at a Milan practice with neutral Olympic athlete Adeliia Petrosian.
Petrosian, 18, is competing as a neutral athlete at the 2026 Winter Games. Russia's invasion of Ukraine prompted the country's exclusion from international sport, with the skater subsequently participating in just one senior event outside Russia in the past two years: September's Olympic qualifiers.
Tutberidze's coaching methods have drawn scrutiny since the 2022 Beijing Olympics, after her former student Kamila Valieva became embroiled in a doping scandal. However, WADA did not find Tutberidze guilty of any offense related to Valieva's positive test. She never faced sanctions.
Tutberidze currently holds Olympic accreditation through Georgia, coaching that country's European men's champion Nika Egadze. The ISU statement clarified the organization had formed "a robust series of protocols for the screening of proposed athletes and their support personnel." The ISU also noted that "the Olympic Winter Games and related rules are the responsibility of the IOC."
Nevertheless, World Anti-Doping Agency President Witold Bańka expressed his discomfort. He admitted he did not "feel comfortable with her presence at the Milano-Cortina Games."
On Monday, Adeliia Petrosian told reporters she felt "excellentt" after her session with Tutberidze. She skated for half an hour at the practice rink next ahead of Tuesday's women's short program qualifiers.
A victory in Milan would make Adeliia Petrosian the fourth consecutive Olympic women's figure skating champion from Russia or the Russian system. Previous champions include Adelina Sotnikova (2014), Alina Zagitova (2018), and Anna Shcherbakova (2022).
Adeliia Petrosian has previously landed quadruple jumps at Russian national competitoins. However, none of the other skaters at the Milano-Cortina Games are able to match that high-scoring element.
What's Next for Olympic Figure Skater Adeliia Petrosian
Following Tuesday's qualifiers, Petrosian will next compete in the women's figure skating medal event on Thursday at 1 PM ET, live across NBC and Peacock.
Petrosian will skate to music by Michael Jackson in the short program. She faces a competitive field that includes Team USA trio Amber Glenn, Alysa Liu, and Isabeau Levito. Japanese frontrunners Kaori Sakamoto and Ami Nakai also present strong challenges.
