Tuktamysheva, Aliev test positive for Covid-19; out of Cup of Russia finale
Rostelecom Cup winner Tuktamysheva and Russian national champion Aliev to skip fifth stage of domestic series, Russian figure skating federation announces
Figure Skating
Elizaveta Tuktamysheva and Dmitri Aliev have both tested positive for the coronavirus, and will miss the upcoming fifth and final stage of the domestic Cup of Russia figure skating series.
The Russian Figure Skating Federation announced on Thursday (3 December) that Tuktamysheva, who won the Rostelecom Cup ISU Grand Prix of Russia two weekends ago, would not compete at the event in Moscow from 5–8 December.
"The test results for COVID-19 of the athlete gave a positive result; for this reason, the student of Alexei Mishin will miss the upcoming competition," the federation announced.
Tuktamysheva attempted two triple Axels at the Rostelecom Cup free skate, landing one cleanly and stepping out of the other, to make up a four-point deficit to Alena Kostornaia.
The 2015 World and European champion will now look towards the national championships in Chelyabinsk from 23–27 December.
Those championships are the likely comeback for Aliev too. The defending Russian national champion, who is also the reigning European champion, will also sit out the Moscow competition.
His coach Evgeny Rukavitsyn confirmed, in quotes reported by the Russian skating federation: "Dima tested positive for coronavirus, so we have to skip the stage of the Russian Cup in Moscow.
"We hope to recover and prepare for the Russian Championship and perform in Chelyabinsk."
Aliev posted a short note on his Instagram stories, thanking his fans for their support after the news was announced.
The duo are the latest Russian skaters to test positive for the virus, after Olympic silver medallist Evgenia Medvedeva was treated for the virus after confirming she was unwell two weeks ago. Medvedeva had also confirmed she would miss the final of the Cup of Russia.