"You need to answer for such words": in Russia they were outraged by statements about the use of hormone blockers by skaters

"They do take hormone blockers."

In Russia, they were outraged by the accusations against figure skaters from the Eteri Tutberidze group, who are suspected of using drugs that slow down growth and necessitate hormonal therapy.

The leadership of the Russian Figure Skating Federation (FFKKR), coaches and former athletes called this information having nothing to do with reality and demanded a refutation.

Scandalous statements were made by the authors of the YouTube channel about figure skating The Skating Lesson, to which almost 30 thousand users are subscribed.

It is hosted by American journalist Dave Lees and world junior champion Jenny Kirk.

On March 21, they published a podcast with Olympic champion Megan Duhamel about the upcoming World Figure Skating Championships in Stockholm, where Anna Shcherbakova won in women's single skating.

After the publication, the authors of the channel continued to communicate with subscribers in the comments and left several messages with an ambiguous message.

Answering a question from one of the users about why they are biased towards Shcherbakova, the journalists talked about their concern for the health of athletes Tutberidze and directly stated that Alina Zagitova had to undergo hormonal therapy.

“I don’t think she is being blamed for being thin.

There are other reasons that lead people to think that she is unwell: some pay attention to her hair, and so on.

As I said, I like most of her performances.

But I am worried about the physical and mental health of the skaters from the Tutberidze team and I will not apologize for that.

We have seen too many "broken" athletes who are then simply thrown out as unnecessary things.

Many of them (Russian

. - RT

) skaters, for example, Zagitova, begin hormone therapy after training.

This practically confirms that they are indeed taking the hormone blockers mentioned ("Lupron").

This issue is widely discussed in Russian figure skating, it is not a secret, ”wrote one of the channel's authors.

After that, the channel's authors hinted that Russian figure skaters use prohibited substances, and some of them had to use heart medications after performing at the Russian championship.

“They 'presumably' use drugs like Lupron, meldonium and stimulants (Adderall).

At the national championships, after the free program, the girls were given cardiac glycosides.

This is confirmed by their own (Russian

. - RT

) articles about athletes who have completed their careers.

They routinely discuss that girls like Zagitova are growing up quickly as they undergo hormone therapy (a consequence of taking drugs such as Lupron), "American journalists say.

In addition, they said that they find Shcherbakova an excellent skater, but their attitude to the Tutberidze team is exactly the opposite.

Also, the channel's authors spoke negatively about the Russian figure skaters due to compliance with anti-coronavirus measures.

They said the Russian skaters were "like Trump supporters on steroids" and accused them of not complying with the rules of the COVID protocol over the past year.

Lupron (or leuprorelin), which journalists mentioned, can be used to slow down the development of the body and the onset of puberty - after passing it, the results of young athletes often change for the worse.

It is worth noting that this drug is prohibited and is equivalent to doping, but only for men, while women can freely use it, realizing and accepting all the risks due to possible consequences and side effects.

"This is outright slander"

The accusations against the athletes caused unanimous outrage among Russian figure skating specialists.

So, the honored trainer of the USSR Tatyana Tarasova demanded that the journalists explain themselves.

She also urged to apply to the American Federation so that she would assess the voiced statements.

“You have to answer for such words!

This is impudent and dishonest!

He needs to be told how he knows this and why he talks about it so calmly.

I think he's a liar.

Nobody will allow him to denigrate our girls.

I think you need to write a letter to the US Figure Skating Federation.

You can't just leave it like that, ”Tarasova told Sport-Express.

Three-time Olympic champion Irina Rodnina said that such accusations must be substantiated.

She noted that athletes need to be prepared for various information attacks like this one.

“Does this journalist have proof?

We will not react to this fool.

A doping scandal appears when they pass a positive test, and these attacks appear due to the fact that the Americans do not know how to fight honestly, so everything is used.

We know the manner of American journalists; we are attacked from all sides.

How does it feel for skaters to read this?

You know, even here they sometimes write about them not in the best light, girls should be ready for anything.

The accusations of this journalist are such a trifle that I don't even want to talk about this topic, ”Rodnina admitted in a conversation with Sport24.

Two-time world champion Irina Slutskaya believes that the FFKKR should not ignore the statements of American journalists.

In her opinion, their statements are slander, for which it is necessary to be held accountable.

“In the place of the federation, I would not leave it so easy, we need to understand at a more serious level.

Our representatives must react and put these people in their place in a harsh way so that they no longer want to open their mouths.

As I understand it, there are still echoes of doping scandals.

Unfortunately, she is not strong in jurisprudence, but this is outright slander.

This statement denigrates the honor and dignity of both our skaters and Russian figure skating in general.

If it can be adjusted to fit the article, then it should be punished.

But the criminal case is too much, ”the former figure skater said to the Championship.

The official reaction from the FFKKR was no less harsh.

The president of the organization, Alexander Gorshkov, called the bloggers' statements "nonsense" and "complete nonsense."

The general director of the federation, Alexander Kogan, added that he was not interested in the statements of American journalists and also doubted the veracity of their words.