Russia threatens to leave Games

[sbp]

By LARRY SIDDONS
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - Angered by a string of decisions against its athletes, Russia threatened Thursday to pull out of the Winter Olympics and might not compete in the Athens Games if its concerns are not addressed.

Russian Olympic Committee president Leonid Tyagachiov said he told IOC president Jacques Rogge that his nation was "greatly unappreciated" in the Olympics.

The comments came at a news conference just hours after one of the nation's top athletes, cross-country skier Larissa Lazutina, was disqualified from the 20-kilometer relay because of high levels of hemoglobin found in a pre-race blood test.

"If decisions are not made and issues we raised not resolved, the Russian team will not play hockey, will not run 30 kilometers, will look very negatively on other factors," Tyagachiov said.

He said there was a 24-hour window to address the situation, and that if Russia left Salt Lake City it probably would not compete in Athens in the next Summer Games.


"Once you leave, it is not easy to come back in," he said.

Later, Vitaly Smirnov, an IOC vice president from Russia, tempered Tyagachoiv's remarks, saying there was no ultimatum "not 24 hours or 48 hours."

However, he said the Russian team wanted Rogge to write a letter to Tyagachoiv "and address our concerns."

IOC officials were meeting to discuss the complaints, but did not immediately comment.

The Russian men's hockey team is scheduled to play the United States in the semifinals on Friday, and a 30-kilometer women's cross-country event is set for Sunday.

Tyagachiov said that while Lazutina's hemoglobin count was just above the legal limit, she was not guilty of doping.

"We are clean," he said. "We have nothing to hide."

A urine test on Lazutina will determine whether her case will be considered a drug positive. Results were expected Friday; she was scheduled to compete in the 30-kilometer race.

Lazutina, who has already won two silvers at these games to increase her career medal total to nine, last raced on Feb. 15 in the 5-kilometer pursuit.

She was hoping for a record-tying 10th medal, but her disqualification knocked four-time defending champion Russia out of Thursday's relay event.

But Tyagachiov was upset by more than the Lazutina case.

He made repeated references to the figure skating judging dispute, in which Russia'a Elena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikharulidze won the pairs' competition but had to share the gold medal with Canada's Jamie Sale and David Pelletier.

"This was a new decision that was practically unprecedented," he said. "We went along with the decision and tried to look at it objectively. ... But we have only so much patience."

Tyagachiov also referred to what he said was a high number of Russian athletes picked for drug tests and an unspecified ruling by a goal judge in ice hockey.

"I think we are seeing a witch hunt," he said.

Smirnov warned against taking his country's complaints too lightly.

"Without Russia, the Olympic Games will be lost," he said.

Tyagachiov said he would meet with top officials of the International Ice Hockey Federation, the International Skating Union and the international ski federation FIS to discuss his complaints.

"We defend our honor," he said.

He also said that if the same rules that led to duplicate golds in pairs skating were applied to the cross-country relay, Russia should share that gold with race winner Germany.

"I told Rogge that since the Canadian figure skaters were awarded a second gold medal, by the same logic our relay should get a gold, too, since it's been dominant for so long," he said. "Or if this is not an 'objective' solution, why not stage a new relay on Saturday?"

The Ukrainian team also did not start event because Valentina Shevchenko failed a blood test. Ukrainian officials declined to comment.

Germany won the gold medal, Norway took the silver and Switzerland got the bronze.

The Russians planned to protest the race.

"This is a scandal. They are specifically hunting out Russian sportsmen," team leader Gennady Ramensky said.

-----
A picture of Mr. Tyagachiov

Well, you know the ole saying...

Don't let the screen door hit you in the *edit*



figured I'd do it before Fingers did!

[Lonewolf54]

It would be a shame if any country pulled out as it would lower the level of competition for all and make the winning of any medals less fulfilling for the participants.

Why can't people just get along?

[caddmannq]

YA! Just take your puck & go home! :P

[osprey4]

What a bunch of whiners!

Are they complaining that the ISU conspired to break up their conspiracy with the French judges?

Or are they worried about tonight? Maybe they're just dreaming up an excuse to avoid taking it on the chin against the USA hockey team!

John

[Warthog]

They should've left some of their pride at home...

[Daft_Ghosty]

Guys.. you know we would feel the same, if the same was being done to American teams over in another country. so don't talk about crying.

I believe in fair game. And right now, they are not recieving a fair game.. I personaly think they have been done wrong, more then once. The Olympics is about fair play.. as much as it is about winning.. Again, if any of this would have happened to America.. we would be upset too.. So look at it from both sides, and try to udnerstand where the other guy is coming from.. one day it might be you on the other side of the fence, having stones thrown at you.

[BBA]

Ummm...no, thats not so.

We had worse happen to us, that was proven worng, and never whined to get it corrected or anything.

Face it, the Russians are panicking...they probably have death threats against their families if they fail!

[Mead]

So they are mad that what was done wrong to the Canadians was made right and that their athlete got caught doping? I dont see anything they are complaining about being a legit beef. Ive been following the hockey games the whole olympics and dont remember any goals that looked questionable. Not to mention they use overhead cameras to verify goals that look like they may have crossed the line. They did it tonight in the game between Russia and the USA.


Mead

[maface]

Originally posted by Daft_Ghosty
.. one day it might be you on the other side of the fence, having stones thrown at you.

If I'm ever a poor loser like the Russians I want someone to hit me off the head with a stone.