The police are starting a criminal trial for alleged violence against figure skater Sofya Stepchenko
The state police has started criminal proceedings for alleged cruelty and violence against the underage figure skater Sofja Stepchenko. As the portal jauns.lv informs, the police have confirmed that a process has been initiated regarding possible offenses in sports, taking into account the publicly released news. The criminal process has been started according to the article of the Criminal Law, which provides for responsibility for possible cruelty and violence against minors.
Athlete’s accusations against former coaches
The two-time Latvian champion in figure skating Sofja Stepčenko previously publicly stated that her former coaches Olga Kovalkova and Raimo Reinsalu had abused her physically and emotionally for several years. The athlete stated that such an attitude negatively affected her mental and physical health, as well as contributed to the development of eating disorders and depression. Stepchenko stopped working with the mentioned coaches in 2024 and moved to Switzerland to train with two-time world champion Stefan Lambiel.
The reaction of the coaches and the progress of the investigation
Representatives of Olga Kovalkova and Raimo Reinsalu deny all the accusations, calling them a smear campaign. Kovalkova previously stated that they had no information about an initiated case, and even claimed that a case against the athlete for defamation had been initiated on their initiative. However, police representatives, commenting on the situation, stated that they could not provide detailed information that would allow identification of the persons, and could not confirm whether an investigation had been launched against them. The Latvian Skating Association (LSA) has informed the police about Stepchenko’s application. The International Skating Union (ISU) is also investigating the situation.
Legal process and consequences
Currently, no suspect has been assigned to the case. This means that, for example, coach Olga Kovalkova is not denied participation in the upcoming Winter Olympic Games. The police emphasize that the receipt of the application does not preclude the need to thoroughly check the information before the official initiation of the criminal process. Although there has been no official comment on the initiation of criminal proceedings against specific individuals, the police confirm that cases of alleged violence in sports are being investigated.
Athlete’s motivation and support of other athletes
In her interviews, Sofia Stepchenko expressed the hope that her openness will help protect other young people and children who are currently or in the future training at the club. She emphasized that no medal or achievement is worth it if it comes at such a high price. Her story has also encouraged other Latvian figure skaters to speak publicly about possible violence in sports.
