“I think the coach has nothing to do with it.” Daniel Grassl about doping scandal involving Eteri Tutberidze and Kamila Valieva
Italian figure skater Daniel Grassl commented on his decision to prepare for the European Championships under the guidance of Russian coach Eteri Tutberidze.
source: rainews.it
Daniel Grassl, European vice-champion, decided to prepare for the European Championships in Moscow, Russia, with the Russian coach Eteri Tutberidze.
“Sport is not politics,” he says, but the decision is ethically questionable, given that, as indicated by the IOC, Russia is excluded from all international competitions because of the war in Ukraine.
A decision was taken after the disastrous performance at the Nationals and was approved by the Italian Skating Federation (FISG). According to the FISG, Grassl himself contacted team Tuberidze.
Daniel Grassl arrived in Finland – after a 12-hour journey via Istanbul – accompanied by Daniel Gleikhengauz and Sergei Dudakov, coaches of Eteri Tuberidze’s team, the coach involved in the doping scandal with Kamila Valjeva at the last Olympics. But Grassl says, “I think the coach has nothing to do with it.” Another statement that will certainly cause discussion.
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I do not believe the coaches were not involved. I think Daniel makes a mistake, and the fact he turns to those coaches to boost his career, knowing the doping case is still not cleared, makes it questionable about his rational for the move, and judgement.
He has a right to choose the coach he deems the best. Neither Eteri or the Russian skaters are responsible for the war. Punishing them instead of those who deserve it (and from whom we keep buying gas) is hypocrisy.
I think most of the fans are angry on him not even because of the war (well all this sports out of politics and things like that) but with the fact that he went to a coaching staff with ongoing doping case involving a minor. I’m sure if he had gone to Mishin there would have been no so much hate.