DRUDGE REPORT 2002®
Russia may quit Olympics to protest foul refereeing
Thu Feb 21 2002 20:25:25 ET
MOSCOW (Itar-Tass) -- The President of the Russian Olympic Committee Leonid Tyagachev has not ruled out that all Russian athletes will cut short their participation in the Salt Lake City Olympics in the United States in protest against foul refereeing.
Interviewed on Russia's RTR television, Tyagachev said Thursday's outrageous decision to remove the Russian women's skiing team from the relay race "caused the cup of patience to overflow." Tyagachev had warned the President of the International Olympic Committee Jacques Rogge that Russia regarded as intolerable the quality of refereeing in relation to its athletes at these Games.
"If we are put in a situation where our athletes have no chance to compete and win on fair terms, we shall have to consider the possibility of holding alternative, spectacular international competitions," Tyagachev said.
He speculated that such Games might bring together athletes from a number of countries affected by biased refereeing in Salt Lake City, such as Ukraine, Belarus, Korea, China, Lithuania and many others.
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