Figure skating at the Olympics is heading into tricky waters again.
Adeliia Petrosian, an 18-year-old Russian skater, shined on Tuesday in the women’s short program, earning a personal best of 72.89. Yet, her ties to a controversial coach could overshadow her achievements.
Petrosian is relatively new to this level of competition, having only skated in two senior events since the war in Ukraine began in 2022. That same year, her coach, Eteri Tutberidze, became infamous when her star student, Kamila Valieva, faced a doping scandal. Valieva, just 15 at the time, failed a drug test, leading to a four-year ban for her coach and stripping the Russian team of their Olympic gold medals.
Tutberidze has guided both Petrosian and Valieva, along with their shared training team in Moscow. Interestingly, Petrosian isn’t officially representing Russia; she’s competing as a “neutral athlete.” While Tutberidze isn’t registered as her official coach in Milan, she has been seen with Petrosian during practice, which is fueling speculation.
Despite the past controversies, Tutberidze has not faced any penalties from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), which stated they found insufficient evidence of wrongdoing on her part. WADA President Witold Banka expressed discomfort about Tutberidze’s presence at the Olympics, signaling that many share his concerns.
As the games progress, the attention around Petrosian grows. Her recent performance puts her in contention for medals, a position she has reached under the shadows of her coach’s history. How she performs could either quiet the uproar or reignite the debate about doping in sports.
Adam Rippon, a former Olympic medalist, voiced uncertainty about Petrosian’s chances. “None of us know how she will do,” he said. “If she wins, it raises questions about the sport’s integrity.”
This sentiment is echoed in recent discussions on social media. Many fans express mixed feelings, some rooting for Petrosian while others question the ethics surrounding her training. In the fast-paced world of figure skating, how viewers and officials handle her presence may shape the sport’s future.
The stakes are high, not just for Petrosian but for figure skating as a whole. Will the influence of past scandals linger in the air, or will this be a moment of redemption for young athletes? Only time will tell.
For more information on doping regulations in sports, you can refer to the [World Anti-Doping Agency](https://www.wada-ama.org/en).
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Olympics,Sports,figure skating,winter olympics,Winter Olympics 2026
