The Lithuanian Olympic team has canceled the accreditation of Raimo Reinsalu, an Estonian figure skating coach, for the upcoming Milan-Cortina Olympics. This decision comes in the wake of serious allegations against Reinsalu regarding the physical and mental abuse of athletes, particularly involving his coaching of Lithuanian figure skater Meda Variakojyte. Additionally, Reinsalu also coaches Latvian athlete Fedirs Kuliss, further raising concerns about his conduct in the sport.

The controversy surrounding Reinsalu dates back to August of the previous year when he was publicly accused of mistreatment by two-time Latvian champion Sofja Stepcenko. Stepcenko unveiled disturbing details of her experiences with Reinsalu and his coaching partner, claiming they manipulated her into competing while injured and pressured her to lose weight excessively. These actions reportedly led to her developing eating disorders and depression, bringing to light the urgent need for reform and oversight in the training practices within figure skating.

Reinsalu has faced serious sanctions, including being removed from his position as a technical specialist for the ISU Junior Grand Prix in Baku scheduled for September 2025. The international figure skating community continues to scrutinize the situation, with advocates for athlete welfare calling for stricter regulations to protect competitors from abusive coaching practices. The decision by the Lithuanian Olympic Committee represents a significant step in addressing issues of athlete safety and wellbeing in competitive sports, particularly in the context of mental health.