In St. Petersburg, the chief physician of a specialized emergency department, Dr. Lev Averbakh, expressed caution about reports surrounding Olympic ice dancing champion Roman Kostomarov. He noted that Kostomarov has not been officially diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis, and cautioned that information circulating in media needs careful verification.
Earlier, some outlets claimed that the skater’s condition had deteriorated and that fibrosis had appeared in the left lung. Dr. Averbakh pointed out that such conclusions require concrete medical testing and expert assessment, emphasizing that a definitive diagnosis cannot be drawn from rapid or incomplete clinical impressions.
According to Averbakh, there are reasons to question the immediacy of a fibrosis diagnosis. He suggested the symptoms could reflect a different issue, such as atelectasis, a partial or complete collapse of lung tissue that reduces lung volume when a section of the lung ceases to function properly. He stressed that these are preliminary considerations and that only the treating medical team can provide reliable details about Kostomarov’s actual condition.
Public narratives about Kostomarov’s health have included various claims. There have been rumors about limb damage and severed fingers, though Kostomarov’s family, through Valentina Kostomarova, denied such reports. Other accounts circulated about possible amputations of the feet, creating confusion about the extent of any surgical interventions. These stories illustrate how quickly misinformation can spread when high-profile athletes face health scares, underscoring the importance of waiting for official, medically verified statements.
As the situation remains under professional review, observers are advised to rely on updates from Kostomarov’s medical team and authorized representatives. The emphasis is on accurate diagnosis, careful treatment planning, and clear communication to the public once reliable information becomes available. In the absence of confirmed medical findings, speculation should be treated with skepticism, and respect for patient privacy should be maintained throughout the process.
In related sports coverage, there was ongoing dialogue about the situational context of elite athletes facing health challenges, including the balance between public interest and medical confidentiality. Analysts note that resolving such matters requires time, clinical expertise, and careful reporting from credible sources, rather than rushed conclusions based on incomplete data or sensationalized narratives.