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‘Clean and innocent’: Valieva’s coach breaks her silence on doping scandal
Coach denies doping after star’s positive test Court expected to rule within 24 hours if Valieva can continue
The Russian coach of the brilliant 15-year-old skater at the eye of a doping storm in Beijing has broken her silence to insist that Kamila Valieva is “clean and innocent”.Eteri Tutberidze admitted that the situation surrounding her skater was “very controversial and difficult”, with the Court of Arbitration for Sport expected to rule within 24 hours whether Valieva can compete in the individual event on Tuesday after she tested positive for a banned heart drug.However Tutberidze told Russian state television that whatever Cas’s ruling, she believed that Valieva had done nothing wrong. “I want to say that I am absolutely sure that Camila is innocent and clean. For us, this is not a theorem, but an axiom, it does not need to be proved. We are with our athletes, in trouble and in joy, to the end.”
Valieva, who captured the hearts of the world when she became the first female skater to perform a quad at the Games as the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) won a brilliant team gold on Monday, has been allowed to train while she appeals her provisional suspension. She looked calm and focused at practice, producing a flawless rendition of her short programme to the music of ‘In Memoriam’ by Krill Richter. Coming off the ice, Sia’s ‘I’m Unstoppable’ blasted through the arena.A spokeswoman for the Figure Skating Federation of Russia told state-owned news agency RIA that Cas expected by 4pm UK time. Meanwhile over the last 24 hours attention in Russia has begun to focus on Tutberidze, who is known for her uncompromising methods.
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