Controversial Russian determine skating coach barred from instructing one other teenage star at Winter Olympics

The controversial Russian figure skating coach Eteri Tutberidze, who was a key member of Kamila Valieva’s entourage during the teenager’s doping scandal at Beijing 2022, will not be allowed to instruct the nation’s next big hope Adeliia Petrosian when the women’s singles commences on Tuesday night.

Tutberidze previously coached Petrosian and was reportedly spotted with the 18-year-old during practice as recently as Monday, despite being here as part of the Georgian delegation.

The International Olympic Committee has now confirmed to Daily Mail Sport that Tutberidze will not permitted to have any formal involvement with Petrosian once the competition begins because of her status as a ‘neutral’ athlete.

Games bosses have imposed strict vetting rules around those Russians designated as neutral and their coaches, so Tutberidze’s proximity to Petrosian has raised eyebrows in Milan.

It follows the intense scrutiny on Tutberidze in Beijing four years ago. Although she was never found guilty of any offence in relation to Valieva’s positive test for trimetazidine, there were questions of whether the entourage of a 15-year-old should bear some responsibility. Ultimately, only Valieva was sanctioned.

Earlier this month, Witold Banka, president of the World Anti-Doping Agency, was asked by Daily Mail Sport about the awkwardness around Tutberidze’s involvement at these Games and he said: ‘If you ask me personally, I didn’t feel comfortable with her presence here at the Olympic Games for sure.’

Eteri Tutberidze (left), the coach of doping scandal skater Kamila Valieva (centre), will not be able to instruct Adeliia Petrosian during the women’s figure skating event at Milan Cortina

Tutberidze has been spotted with Petrosian at practise despite being part of the Georgian delegation, but will not be permitted formal involvement during the competition

The IOC confirmed to Daily Mail Sport that Petrosian’s status as a ‘neutral’ athlete means Tutberidze can have no involvement

He added: ‘It is not our decision – the coach is here, the investigation found no evidence that this particular person was engaged in this doping. So there is no legal basis to exclude her.

‘I think as a result of this situation, not only this situation, there were changes of the (WADA) code. We strengthened the rules. We put a lot of emphasis on entourage with a mandatory investigation when a minor is involved. There are many new regulations and rules in the code that address this issue.’

Tutberidze drew further criticism in Beijing for her attitude towards a tearful Valieva after she fell repeatedly in the second phase of the singles final. She was heard asking: ‘Why did you let it go? Why did you stop fighting?’

Thomas Bach, the then-IOC president, described the episode as ‘chilling to see’ and an act of ‘tremendous coldness’.

When contacted on Tuesday about Tutberidze’s interactions with Petrosian, an IOC spokesperson told Daily Mail Sport: ‘Ms Tutberidze has been accredited for the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 under her Georgian passport as a coach for the NOC of Georgia and as such, no vetting was required.

‘As at all Olympic Games, during training, figure skating athletes are able to seek guidance from other coaches that they know well. A similar situation occurred with the other AIN athlete in figure skating, who was assisted during his training by a coach accredited by USOPC.

‘During the actual competition, the athletes may only be coached by their accredited team officials.’