Anton Sikharulidze, the Deputy President of the Russian Figure Skating Federation, spoke about the decision by Diana Davis, the daughter of famed coach Eteri Tutberidze, to switch her sports citizenship. His comments, cited by Sports Express, shed light on the unique circumstances behind the change and how the federation approached the situation with openness and pragmatism.
According to Sikharulidze, Diana Davis was not born in Russia and has a distinct life path that has little connection to the country. He noted that she faces a specific challenge related to a hearing impairment and the specialized devices she relies on are manufactured in a single country. In light of these factors, the federation chose to meet the athletes halfway, prioritizing their health, training needs, and long-term competitive goals over rigid nationality considerations. The conversation emphasized that Davis’s life and career have developed outside Russia, and the decision was guided by a practical, compassionate approach that respected her circumstances.
Teachings and training collaborations extended beyond borders, as Davis skates with Gleb Smolkin. After the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, the duo, like many skaters, relocated their training base to the United States to access premier facilities and coaching. In the summer of 2023, they formally changed their sporting allegiance to the Georgian national team. Their partnership quickly demonstrated momentum when, at the start of August 2023, they captured the Ice Dance International title in Lake Placid, signaling a fresh chapter in their competitive journey.
The International Olympic Committee had already advised international federations in February 2022 to bar domestic and Belarusian athletes from competing under certain conditions, a directive that impacted many eligibility decisions across sports. In response, the International Skating Union suspended participation rights for Russian and Belarusian athletes. Although the ISU discussed the possibility of reinstating Russian skaters at its meeting in October, the matter did not advance to the official agenda at that time, underscoring the cautious and evolving nature of eligibility rules during a period of geopolitical tension.
In related developments, statements from the federation referenced past testing and integrity protocols, noting that Kamila Valieva underwent a series of doping tests. The statements stressed the continued emphasis on fair play and the verification processes that guide international competition. The overall narrative reflects a sport landscape that is navigating complex policy changes while striving to support athletes who pursue high-level performance across national boundaries and competing interests.