Dancing with the Stars professional Gleb Savchenko has made a serious new allegation against his ex-wife, Elena Samodanova, in the latest escalation of their increasingly bitter custody battle. In court documents filed in October 2026, Savchenko claims that Samodanova gave their 15-year-old daughter, Olivia, weight-loss medication without consulting him and without appropriate medical oversight.
The claim, reported by multiple outlets citing court filings, is the newest chapter in a prolonged and international custody fight between the two former ballroom dancers, one that has already spanned allegations of child retention in Hong Kong, Hague Convention proceedings, and a string of competing accusations.
It is important to note that these are allegations made in a contested custody dispute. They have not been proven in court, and Samodanova has rejected her ex-husband’s broader claims. This article lays out what both sides have said.
Here is a breakdown of the weight-loss medication claim, the context of the custody battle, and where the case stands now.
Gleb Savchenko’s Weight-Loss Meds Claim: What the Filing Says
According to court documents obtained by TMZ, Savchenko states that his daughter Olivia told him her mother made hurtful comments about her body, weight, and appearance. He further alleges that Samodanova gave the teenager weight-loss medication without consulting him and without ensuring appropriate medical supervision.
The filing includes additional claims about Olivia’s treatment. Savchenko alleges that Olivia told him she was subjected to prolonged periods of silent treatment and that her bedroom door was removed as a form of punishment.
Notably, in this particular filing, Savchenko is not seeking to change where the children primarily live. Instead, he is asking the judge to step in and address the concerns he has raised about Olivia’s wellbeing.
The specifics of the alleged medication, including what it was and how it was obtained, were not detailed in the public reporting on the filing.
‘DWTS’ pro Gleb Savchenko claims ex-wife forced daughter, 15, to take weight loss pills https://t.co/xbpyF7x6if https://t.co/p95gifjoiS
— Page Six (@PageSix) October 13, 2026
The Context: A Custody Battle That Spans Continents
The weight-loss medication allegation is the latest development in a custody dispute that has grown steadily more contentious throughout 2026.
Savchenko and Samodanova, both professional dancers, were married for 14 years before announcing their split in November 2020. They share two daughters: Olivia, born in November 2010, and Zlata, born on August 1, 2017. Samodanova filed for divorce in Los Angeles in December 2020.
For several years, the two reportedly reached a more stable co-parenting arrangement. That changed in 2026, when the custody situation escalated dramatically.
In July 2026, Savchenko filed an emergency custody request, claiming that Samodanova had kept their daughters in Hong Kong longer than agreed after what he said was supposed to be a temporary move for her work in 2023. On July 14, he filed for sole custody in Los Angeles. He said at the time that Olivia was with him in California and wanted to stay there to attend a local high school.
Samodanova, who resides in Hong Kong with the couple’s younger daughter, pushed back. She argued that Olivia should remain in Hong Kong, where she had been pursuing an International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma program after years of preparation, and said Savchenko’s actions jeopardized their daughter’s future, education, and athletic progress. She also accused Savchenko of being the parent engaged in “wrongful retention.”
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The Hague Convention and the Court’s Ruling
The international nature of the dispute brought the Hague Convention into play. The treaty governs cross-border child abduction and custody claims, and Samodanova filed proceedings under it.
During an August 2026 court hearing, a judge issued a stay on the case, postponing any decision on Olivia’s return to Hong Kong while the Hague Convention proceedings continued. Hearings were repeatedly delayed, at one point reportedly due to internet connection issues affecting Samodanova’s remote participation.
Ultimately, according to documents obtained by the Daily Mail, the court determined that Olivia’s habitual residence was in Hong Kong. As a result, Olivia returned to Hong Kong with her mother, marking a significant setback for Savchenko in the custody fight, at least for that stage of the proceedings.
The October weight-loss medication filing followed that ruling, representing Savchenko’s continued effort to raise concerns about his daughter’s circumstances.
Competing Allegations From Both Sides
The custody battle has been marked by a series of competing claims, with each parent offering starkly different accounts.
Savchenko’s claims: Beyond the weight-loss medication allegation, Savchenko has claimed that Samodanova kept the children in Hong Kong beyond a temporary arrangement, that Olivia repeatedly expressed a desire to live with him, and, in an earlier filing, that Samodanova and her fiancé sent Olivia inappropriate messages about him. He has publicly stated, “I feel frustrated, but I feel good because the truth always wins.”
Samodanova’s responses: Samodanova has rejected Savchenko’s claims and emphasized her role as Olivia’s primary caregiver. She has stressed the importance of Olivia’s stability, education, and dance career in Hong Kong, and argued that the custody dispute disrupted her daughter’s IB diploma program. She denied the earlier allegation about inappropriate messages, calling it completely false. She has also turned the abduction accusations back on Savchenko, accusing him of wrongful retention.
Savchenko’s girlfriend, Kaitlin Trujillo, has also been drawn into the increasingly complicated dispute. Separately, Savchenko listed his California home amid the ongoing battle.
As with all contested custody matters, these remain allegations and counter-allegations. A family court will ultimately weigh the evidence from both sides.
What Gleb Savchenko Is and Isn’t Asking For
A key detail in the latest filing is what Savchenko is specifically requesting.
Unlike his July emergency filing, where he sought temporary sole legal and sole physical custody of Olivia, the October filing does not ask to change the children’s primary living arrangement. Instead, Savchenko is asking the court to intervene on the specific welfare concerns he has raised.
The couple’s younger daughter, Zlata, now 9, is not part of Savchenko’s custody requests. His legal efforts have centered on Olivia, the elder of the two daughters.
Savchenko’s attorney, Mark Karney, has represented him throughout the proceedings and previously argued that Olivia had repeatedly told her mother she wanted to live with her father.
Who Is Gleb Savchenko
Gleb Savchenko was born on September 16, 1983, in Moscow, Russia. He is 43 years old and is one of the most recognizable professional dancers on the American version of Dancing with the Stars.
He first appeared as a professional on the Australian version of the show before joining the U.S. series, where he has been paired with a long list of celebrity partners over the years, including comedian Nikki Glaser, country singer Lauren Alaina, drag performer Shangela, actress Mira Sorvino, model Brooks Nader, and most recently Hilaria Baldwin.
He was married to professional dancer Elena Samodanova for 14 years before their 2020 split.
Who Is Elena Samodanova
Elena Samodanova is a professional dancer and choreographer who has worked on So You Think You Can Dance. She was married to Savchenko from 2006 until their separation in November 2020.
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Following the split, Samodanova relocated, and as of the current custody dispute, she resides in Hong Kong with the couple’s younger daughter, Zlata. She has consistently positioned herself as Olivia’s primary caregiver throughout the legal proceedings and has emphasized her daughter’s education and dance career in Hong Kong.
Gleb Savchenko Custody Battle: Key Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Parents | Gleb Savchenko and Elena Samodanova |
| Marriage | 2006 to 2020 (14 years) |
| Divorce filed | December 2020 |
| Children | Olivia (born Nov. 2010, age 15) and Zlata (born Aug. 2017, age 9) |
| Latest claim | Samodanova allegedly gave Olivia weight-loss medication without medical oversight |
| Other claims in filing | Silent treatment; bedroom door removed as punishment; body/weight comments |
| Samodanova’s position | Rejects claims; stresses role as primary caregiver |
| July 2026 filing | Savchenko sought temporary sole custody of Olivia |
| October 2026 filing | Does not seek to change primary residence; asks court to intervene on welfare |
| International element | Hague Convention proceedings; court ruled Olivia’s habitual residence is Hong Kong |
| Not part of custody fight | Younger daughter Zlata |
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Gleb Savchenko claim about his ex-wife?
In an October 2026 court filing, Gleb Savchenko claimed that his ex-wife, Elena Samodanova, gave their 15-year-old daughter Olivia weight-loss medication without consulting him or ensuring appropriate medical oversight. He also alleged Samodanova made comments about Olivia’s body and used punishments including silent treatment and removing her bedroom door.
Has Elena Samodanova responded to the allegations?
Samodanova has rejected Savchenko’s broader claims throughout the custody dispute and has emphasized her role as Olivia’s primary caregiver. She previously denied a separate allegation about inappropriate messages, calling it completely false.
What is the Gleb Savchenko custody battle about?
Savchenko and Samodanova are fighting over custody of their 15-year-old daughter, Olivia, with the central disagreement being whether Olivia should live with her father in Los Angeles or her mother in Hong Kong. The dispute has involved Hague Convention proceedings over child abduction claims.
How many children do Gleb Savchenko and Elena Samodanova have?
The former couple shares two daughters: Olivia, born in November 2010, and Zlata, born in August 2017. Savchenko’s custody efforts have focused on Olivia; Zlata is not part of his custody requests.
What did the court decide in the custody case?
A court determined that Olivia’s habitual residence was in Hong Kong, and she returned there with her mother, which was a setback for Savchenko. His subsequent October filing raised new welfare concerns but did not seek to change the children’s primary residence.
When did Gleb Savchenko and Elena Samodanova divorce?
The couple announced their split in November 2020 after 14 years of marriage, and Samodanova filed for divorce in Los Angeles in December 2020.
Is Gleb Savchenko still on Dancing with the Stars?
Yes. Savchenko has continued as a professional dancer on Dancing with the Stars, most recently partnered with Hilaria Baldwin.
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Last Updated on October 13, 2026 by 247 News Around The World
