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Russia threatens to quit Olympics

SALT LAKE CITY (CNN) -- Russia is threatening to pull all its athletes from the 2002 Winter Games if new concerns over judging and drug tests are not investigated.

South Korea could also to cast a cloud over the end of the Salt Lake City games,saying it may boycott the closing ceremony following the disqualification of one of its speed skaters.

Russia's latest incident involves the disqualification of its cross-country skier Larissa Lazutina, who tested positive for an elevated level of haemoglobin, in violation of doping rules.

Her removal on Thursday knocked the entire four-woman Russian team -- a top gold contender -- out of the 20-kilometre relay event.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has entered the debate by reportedly expressing his concern at the decision.

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CNN's Jill Dougherty said Russians were "steamed up about it."

"They belive that Russia has been dissed, insulted, by what is going on in Salt Lake City," she added.

Leonid Tyagachiov, president of the Russian Olympic Committee, said 24-hour notice had been given on Thursday to IOC President Jacques Rogge that their team will pull out of the Olympics if their grievances are not addressed.

Dougherty added: "The question is whether they will actually do it. Certainly, there are a lot of politicians and people here who would like them to do it. Others say 'stick with it' and show what they can do. Certainly there is a lot of anger."

Vitaly Smirnov, an International Olympic Committee member from Russia, suggested the IOC should have simply replaced Lazutina instead of disqualifying the whole team -- a decision he found "cruel and inhuman."

He also found fault with the test itself, because "the elevated content of haemoglobin is no indicator of doping."

The Russian officials also made unspecific complaints about the refereeing of the Russia-Czech Republic hockey game the day before, which Russia won 1-0.

They said poor judgment calls nearly forced their team to lose.

The uproar follows the controversial decision to give second-placed Canadian figure skaters Jamie Sale and David Pelletier a gold alongside the Russian pair of Yelena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikharulidze.

Putin was quoted by Interfax news agency as saying some of the decisions were "surprising to say the least."

He put it down to the new Olympic leadership's "flop" and the Russian Olympic committee having been "passive in the face of incorrect and inobjective judging."

The 24-hour deadline would expire just before Friday night's anticipated semi-final hockey match between Russia and the United States.

Tyagachiov said: "If these issues are not resolved, the Russian team will not play hockey, will not run 30 kilometres, and will definitely look very negatively upon the future," indicating Russia's participation in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens would also be in jeopardy.

"We need clean, pure sports," he said. "It should not be a political game. It should be a sports game."

Emotions running high

In response, IOC Director-General Francois Carrard admitted emotions and tensions were running high, but said he was confident the Russians would stay in the Olympics.

"The Russian delegation, the Russian athletes, and the Russian people have shown a long, long commitment and first-class commitment to the Olympic movement," Carrard said.

"We trust that they will keep this full dedication and commitment."

The Russian team filed a protest with Rogge, who promised to investigate the grievances and double-check the accuracy of such decisions, Carrard said.

Rogge also was sending a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin to "explain" the IOC's decisions.

For the most part, Carrard shifted responsibility for the disputed calls to the international sporting federations.

The blood test in the women's cross-country event would have to be taken up with the International Ski Federation, he said, just as the hockey refereeing was an issue for International Hockey Federation.

At the same time as the Russians lodged their complaints, South Korea protested against a decision in Wednesday's controversial 1500-metre short track final that saw South Korean Kim Dong-sung disqualified after crossing the finish line first.

Judges said Kim -- who first believed he had won the gold -- blocked U.S. skater Apolo Anton Ohno on the last lap. Ohno, who crossed the finish line second, was then awarded the gold medal.

"We strongly protest the decision made by this referee," said Park Sung-in, the South Korean Olympic Team leader. "I firmly believe that Kim Dong-sung is the winner of this race, and there is no doubt about it in my mind.

"Therefore this misjudgment must be rectified and we will do whatever is necessary to correct this misjudgment," Park said.

He said South Korea would pursue legal options and was considering not participating in the closing ceremony.



 
 
 
 





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