Eteri Tutberidze: “After two years, nothing has become clear, the origin of this drug has not been investigated, and there are still many questions. Only accusations from different sides are coming our way.”
Eteri Tutberidze commented on the verdict made by CAS in Kamila Valieva’s doping case.
original source: Instagram
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) disqualified the figure skater for 4 years starting from December 25, 2021.
“For two years now, I have refrained from commenting on the situation involving Kamila Valieva’s doping detected at the 2021 Russian Nationals, despite undeserved and incessant hate and accusations directed toward me. Our entire team was strictly prohibited from commenting or assessing the ongoing situation in any way, as it could influence and hinder the investigation. I, perhaps more than anyone, wanted this story to be thoroughly investigated, and for me to have no lingering questions, even if it was a mistake, error, or a crime on someone’s part. For many years, I have worked tirelessly without weekends or vacations for the results of athletes, and I, like no one else, want to know what happened to Kamila and how this substance entered her body. All my athletes have been and remain clean; I stand for fair play, and it cannot be otherwise.
Since 2010, our athletes have been competing in international competitions. It will probably be impossible to count the number of doping tests that have been taken during this time. The samples have always been clean, and I hope it stays that way. We have always taught and explained to our athletes and their parents to be careful even with the simplest cold remedies and not to trust, unfortunately, absolutely anyone. And after two years, nothing has become clear, the origin of this drug has not been investigated, and there are still many questions. Only accusations from different sides are coming our way.
I have no questions for Kamila; she is a child, and from my side, I will continue to support her in every possible way. Not to the detriment of all my previous athletes — Kamila is the most gifted athlete. She has faced a trial that is difficult to describe in words. Regarding the verdict, I have one main question — did anyone defend Kamila at the hearings? Because there couldn’t have been a worse verdict.
Kamila’s story is our pain,” Tutberidze posted on her Instagram
Related topics: Eteri Tutberidze, Kamila Valieva
Response to To War:
I am not going to speculate who, but this is certainly the question we’d all like answerted: How did Kamila get those drugs? Did she secretly take them herself, or was someone else responsible for giving them to her under the guise of “recovery vitamins”? (This is a term Eteri used in a 2019 interview to describe Meldonium shortly after it was banned.) Maybe we will all know the truth someday…
To Galaxiana: 15-year old child cannot go to pharmacy and buy these drugs on her own, not even in Russia. Some adult has prescribed them to her / gave them to her. Who is this adult??
Kamila, herself, listed 2 other heart medications on her doping control form! The fact that she was found guilty of taking a (banned) third heart drug should surprise no one, least of all her coach.
Why has nobody been reporting this fact since very early days during the Olympics? (One source from then is the New York Times:
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/14/sports/olympics/valieva-drug-test-heart-medications.html )
She is guilty as charged; end of story.
It’s especially sad because she is truly a special talent and didn’t need to cheat to win.
To No War,
Thank you for an informative answer!
To Fashionista: I do not believe that Russian State forces athletes/coaches to use doping. I do believe there are doctors in Russia who might be professional when it comes to different substances, like it would be in other countries. And it’s possible, these doctors have got governmental funding to conduct their research. But it would still be up to athletes/ coaches / parents to choose which ‘doctor’ you go to and what you ask for.. In case of Kamila, her parents / team are ultimately responsible for the substance found in her body. Coach can protect an athlete by choosing a proper doctor.
To No War.
But how does a coach protect an athlete against state sponsored doping? It’s a genuine question, because I don’t understand how any athlete could be kept safe in such a system.
Poor Kamila – being surrounded by the adults who were / are not willing to protect her. Tutberidze is pretending she knows nothing and is not involved. By that, the blame is placed on Kamila. I’m disappointed in Eteri.