The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan have already delivered their fair share of drama, but few stories have gripped the figure skating world quite like the saga unfolding around 18-year-old Adeliia Petrosian. The Russian-born skater, competing as a neutral athlete due to her country's ongoing Olympic ban, has quickly become a focal point—not just for her athletic prowess, but for the controversy swirling around her coaching staff. On Tuesday, February 17, Petrosian delivered a career-best short program, earning an impressive 72.89 points and putting herself firmly in medal contention. Yet, as she glided across the ice, the shadow of a past scandal loomed large.
Petrosian's rapid rise on the Olympic stage is remarkable given her limited senior-level experience. This is only her second major international competition since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, a conflict that has kept Russian athletes sidelined or forced them to compete under neutral status. Despite these hurdles, Petrosian, a three-time Russian national champion, has shown the poise and technical skill of a seasoned veteran. Her journey, however, is inextricably linked to her coach, Eteri Tutberidze—a name both revered and reviled in the world of figure skating.
Tutberidze is no stranger to controversy. She was at the center of the infamous doping scandal at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, where her then-protégé, Kamila Valieva, tested positive for a banned substance at just 15 years old. The fallout was immense: Valieva received a four-year ban, and the Russian Olympic Committee was stripped of its gold medals. Yet, Tutberidze herself was never sanctioned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) or the International Olympic Committee (IOC). This lack of formal punishment hasn't stopped speculation and discomfort among officials and fans alike, especially now that she is once again present at the Games—this time as an accredited coach for the Georgian delegation.
Officially, Tutberidze is not listed as Petrosian's coach in Milan. The role belongs to Daniil Gleikhengauz, who previously served as choreographer for Valieva and is part of the same coaching team. Still, the lines between official titles and practical reality have blurred. Multiple sources reported that Tutberidze was seen at Petrosian's practice session on February 16, "looking very much like her coach," as The Athletic put it. The IOC confirmed that while athletes can seek advice from familiar coaches during training, only accredited team officials are permitted to coach during the actual competition—a rule that, in Petrosian's case, is being closely monitored.
"The IOC has imposed strict vetting rules around those Russians designated as neutral and their coaches," a spokesperson told Daily Mail Sport. "Tutberidze's proximity to Petrosian has raised eyebrows in Milan." The scrutiny is understandable: Tutberidze is a polarizing figure whose coaching methods and entourage have come under fire, especially after her cold reaction to Valieva's emotional breakdown in Beijing. Then-IOC president Thomas Bach called Tutberidze's treatment of the young skater "chilling to see" and an act of "tremendous coldness."
Despite these concerns, the official stance from WADA remains clear. "The coach is here. An investigation found no evidence that this particular person engaged in a doping process, so there is no legal basis to exclude her from the Olympic Games," WADA President Witold Banka stated earlier this month. However, he didn't hide his personal feelings, adding, "If you ask me personally, I don’t feel comfortable with her presence here at the Olympic Games for sure." Banka also noted that in response to the Valieva scandal, WADA has since strengthened its code, placing more emphasis on the responsibility of athlete entourages and instituting mandatory investigations when minors are involved.
Petrosian herself has never failed a drug test, and there is no record implicating her in any doping violations. Still, the connection to Tutberidze and the infamous Moscow training site is hard to ignore. According to findings by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, Valieva was administered 56 different medications and dietary supplements over two years, starting at age 13—a fact that continues to raise eyebrows about the environment in which both skaters trained.
The uncertainty surrounding Petrosian's Olympic journey is palpable. Former Olympic bronze medalist and analyst Adam Rippon summed up the mood: "I can tell you that none of us have any idea how she will do, and she doesn’t have any idea, either. But it’s kind of sad to think about that, if she does win a medal, how that will reflect on the sport." Rippon's words capture the tension between celebrating a young athlete's breakthrough and grappling with the reputational risks her success might bring to figure skating as a whole.
As the women's singles event progresses, Petrosian remains in the spotlight—not just for her technical brilliance, but for the broader questions her story raises. Can the sport move past its recent scandals, or will every Russian-linked success be met with suspicion? The IOC and WADA are watching closely, determined to enforce their new, stricter regulations and avoid a repeat of Beijing's debacle. Yet, as history has shown, the boundaries between rules and reality are often tested on the Olympic stage.
For now, Petrosian's focus is on the ice. Having qualified for the free skate with her career-best performance, she faces the daunting task of blocking out the noise and skating for herself—and perhaps, for a sport still seeking redemption. The outcome of the competition remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: all eyes are on Milan, where the future of Olympic figure skating may be shaped by what happens next.
As the free skate approaches, the world waits to see whether Petrosian's story will end in triumph, controversy, or something in between. Regardless of the final result, her journey has already left an indelible mark on these Games—and on the ongoing debate about integrity and accountability in Olympic sport.