Zheleznyakov on Valieva’s case: “If WADA had evidence against Tutberidze, then her team would have been ‘drowned’ a long time ago”

Choreographer Alexey Zheleznyakov told that if the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) had evidence against the coach Eteri Tutberidze on the case of the figure skater Kamila Valieva then his team would have been “drowned” a long time ago.

Earlier, WADA Director General Olivier Niggli said that the organization had no evidence of coach Tutberidze’s guilt in violating the anti-doping rules of his ward Valieva.

“If WADA had evidence against Tutberidze, his team would have been drowned long ago.” Imagine, in the entire history of Tutberidze’s team, not a single girl was caught doing drugs. And then an athlete of such a high level takes doping, and insignificant trimetazidine, which plays no role in figure skating. Will Tutberidze start giving him medicine? This is an absurdity which is not subject to any common sense. Everyone understands perfectly that girls at this level are subject to strict doping control. They are tortured at every competition, they undergo tests for several hours, everyone knows it. Athletes and coaches are well aware that special attention is paid to them, especially in a political context where any misstep plays into the hands of our “partners”. Of course, WADA has no evidence against Eteri in the Valieva case. It’s clear as day. My opinion remains the same as before: the girl was simply framed,” Zheleznyakov told .

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.

Zheleznyakov left Tutberidze’s team in November 2023. The choreographer collaborated with Tutberidze throughout his career in Russia.