IOC boss says it was ’chilling’ to see how Kamila Valieva's coach treated her after error-strewn performance

by Peter Stebbings

Beijing - IOC president Thomas Bach said Friday it was "chilling" to see how Kamila Valieva's coach treated the Russian teenager after a doping scandal engulfing the skater culminated in an error-strewn performance at the Beijing Olympics.

The International Olympic Committee chief said that he was "very disturbed" to see the 15-year-old fall several times in Thursday's women's figure skating final, as she unravelled and sobbed under the glare of the global spotlight.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is looking into Valieva's entourage, after the doping controversy tarnished the second week of the Games in the Chinese capital.

"I was very disturbed when I watched it on TV," Bach said, adding Valieva was treated with "a tremendous coldness" by her coaches after the calamitous free skate routine which saw her finish fourth and miss out on a medal.

The pre-Games favourite for gold was distraught afterwards but Russian coach Eteri Tutberidze was seen demanding to know what had gone wrong as Valieva came off the ice, her head bowed and looking pale.

"Why did you let it go? Why did you let it go? Tell me," Tutberidze can be heard saying.

“A complete slap in the face”: Former U.S. Olympic figure skater Adam Rippon condemned the decision to let Russian teen skater Kamila Valieva compete in the Beijing Olympics after her positive drug test. pic.twitter.com/BfoSAz5wGC

Bach told a news conference: "When I afterwards saw how she was received by her closest entourage with what appeared to be such a tremendous coldness, it was chilling to see this."

The doping affair will rumble on long after the Games have ended, and Valieva could yet be punished.

The teenager was controversially cleared to carry on at the Games