Lakernik on whether Valieva’s ban will affect Tutberidze’s ability to attend the Olympic qualifier: “Let’s hold off, but the question is valid.”

Posted on 2025-01-22 • 1 comment

 

Alexander Lakernik suggested posing a question about the allowance of coaches linked to doping cases.

original source: MatchTV

photo RIA / Vladimir Astapkovich

The Honorary Vice President of the International Skating Union (ISU), Alexander Lakernik, told Match TV that he will carefully study the release about the admission of neutral athletes and, if necessary, will ask the ISU about the possibility of Eteri Tutberidze’s presence at the Olympic qualifying tournament. Here’s a translation of his comments.

On Friday, the International Skating Union (ISU) allowed Russians to participate in the 2026 Olympic qualifiers under an individual neutral status.

One of the points in the ISU release (4.d) regarding the admission of neutral athletes states: “Nominated Athletes and their Support Personnel must have not associated in any way with any person serving a period of ineligibility for an Anti-Doping rule violation and they must have accepted to fully comply with any request for information from the ITA, ISU, IOC, WADA, including any request to provide further whereabouts information, or the contact details of all Support Personnel they associate with.”

At the moment, Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva is serving a disqualification, and her coach is Eteri Tutberidze.

“Q: We know that Kamila Valieva is currently serving a disqualification, her coach is Eteri Tutberidze. Could Eteri Georgievna go as support personnel if her athletes are admitted to the qualification competitions in Beijing?

Alexander Lakernik: Let’s hold off for now, but it’s a valid question. We need to carefully read what is written. There are questions and there are interpretations of those questions. The question has been correctly raised. I repeat, we need to study it. And, perhaps, we will ask ISU: what does this mean?

Q: You say that we will ask a question. Are you ready to participate in the discussions?

Alexander Lakernik: First of all, in what capacity? I am ready to participate in any discussions where I am invited. But who will invite me to discuss such issues? That does not depend on me, I currently have no authority. If I am invited, I will participate.”


 

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One response to “Lakernik on whether Valieva’s ban will affect Tutberidze’s ability to attend the Olympic qualifier: “Let’s hold off, but the question is valid.””

  1. Pirkaf says:

    This is all nonsense. She’s also a coach of Nika Egadze, for example.

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