WADA says it has ‘no evidence’ of Tutberidze’s involvement in Valieva doping case

Russian figure skater doping case Kamila Valieva left a “very bad taste” with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), unhappy that the “teenager” was the only one to be suspended while her coaches and those around her escaped sanctions.

WADA now wants anti-doping rules updated ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy, to give more powers to investigate the actions of those around athletes.

“The taste of this affair is very unpleasant when we see that the choice was made to sacrifice an athlete, rather than indicating who really helped her in her doping,” said the AP quoting the director general of the ‘AMA, Olivier Niggli.

Kamila Valieva’s coach at that time was Eteri Tutberidze .

However, Niggli admitted there was “no evidence” to directly link the coach to Valieva’s doping case, suggesting “maybe a physio, maybe a doctor, was involved”.

At the end of January, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) suspended Valieva for four years for violating anti-doping rules. The 17-year-old Russian’s suspension period begins on December 25, 2021, and her results have been canceled since that date. The court’s decision led to a review of the results of the team figure skating tournament at the 2022 Olympics, where the Russian team won. First place is now awarded to the American team, the Japanese are second and the Russians will receive bronze. Valieva was also deprived of gold at the European Championship.

The XXV Olympic Winter Games in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo will be held from February 6 to 22, 2026.