Will Russia Go Home?? - GoFuckYourself.com

mailman · 02-21-2002, 07:49 PM

Feb 21) 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 within 24 hours.

Russian Olympic Committee president Leonid Tyagachiov said he told IOC president Jacques Rogge that his nation was "greatly unappreciated" in the Olympics and wanted its issues taken seriously.

The Russian's comments came at a news conference just hours after one of its top athletes, cross-country skier Larissa Lazutina, was disqualified from the women's 4x5-kilometre 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 kilometres, will look very negatively on other factors," Tyagachiov said through a translator.

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.

The Russian men's hockey team is scheduled to play the United States in the semifinals on Friday.

Tyagachiov also 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."

IOC officials did not immediately return a phone call for comment.

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-kilometre classical event Sunday.

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 five-kilometre 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.

Tyagachiov also referred to what he said were 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.

Vitaly Smirnov, an IOC vice president from Russia, warned against taking his country's complaints too lightly.

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

THEN DURRING THE HOCKEY GAME DON CHERRY PROCEEDED TO SAY GO HOME WE DONT CARE.. LOL got to love him

Rose · 02-21-2002, 08:42 PM

I love DON CHERRY

02-21-2002, 07:49 PM	#1
mailman Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 6,311	Will Russia Go Home?? Feb 21) 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 within 24 hours. Russian Olympic Committee president Leonid Tyagachiov said he told IOC president Jacques Rogge that his nation was "greatly unappreciated" in the Olympics and wanted its issues taken seriously. The Russian's comments came at a news conference just hours after one of its top athletes, cross-country skier Larissa Lazutina, was disqualified from the women's 4x5-kilometre 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 kilometres, will look very negatively on other factors," Tyagachiov said through a translator. 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. The Russian men's hockey team is scheduled to play the United States in the semifinals on Friday. Tyagachiov also 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." IOC officials did not immediately return a phone call for comment. 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-kilometre classical event Sunday. 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 five-kilometre 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. Tyagachiov also referred to what he said were 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. Vitaly Smirnov, an IOC vice president from Russia, warned against taking his country's complaints too lightly. "Without Russia, the Olympic Games will be lost," Smirnov said. THEN DURRING THE HOCKEY GAME DON CHERRY PROCEEDED TO SAY GO HOME WE DONT CARE.. LOL got to love him

02-21-2002, 08:42 PM	#2
Rose Confirmed User Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: ON,Canada Posts: 1,456	I love DON CHERRY