A Kremlin spokesman bashed Worldwide Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach on Friday, saying the IOC official does not just like the "toughness" of Russian coaches regardless that it's important to Olympic victories.
Bach had lately joined others in criticizing Russian determine skater Kamila Valieva's entourage after the 15-year-old, on the heart of a doping scandal, carried out poorly this week, the Related Press reported. Reacting to Bach, the Kremlin's Dmitry Peskov, stated, "Everybody is aware of that in elite sports activities the coach's toughness is essential to the scholars' victories."
Valieva headed into the free skate occasion amidst controversy over testing constructive for the banned substance trimetazidine. She positioned first within the brief program however by no means made it to the rostrum Thursday after a rocky efficiency stuffed with quite a few falls. Valieva broke down in tears after stepping off the ice and acquired chilly seems to be from her coaches that made viewers cringe.
"Once I afterwards noticed how she was acquired by her closest entourage, with...what gave the impression to be an amazing coldness, it was chilling to see this," Bach stated at a information convention on Friday.
Bach's response got here as a shock. He has defended Russian athletes up to now, even with a 2014 doping scandal that briefly banned the nation from competing within the Olympics.
The response to the Russian determine skater's tears appeared to alter Bach's tone, the AP reported. "Fairly than giving her consolation, slightly than to attempt to assist her, you possibly can really feel this chilling environment, this distance," he stated.
Valieva sobbed after she missed the rostrum place by 9.04 factors throughout Thursday's efficiency. Her Russian teammates Anna Shcherbakova and Alexandra Trusova received gold and silver, respectively, whereas Kaori Sakamoto of Japan beat Valieva for the rostrum place and took bronze.
A number of members of the Russian determine skating group had been crying and in disbelief after the outcomes. There was little celebration as Valieva, the favourite to win the gold medal, did not make it to the rostrum. Trusova initially recommended she did not need to take part within the victory ceremony and considered retiring at 17, whereas Shcherbakova had blended emotions about profitable the competitors, the AP reported.
"I used to be feeling plenty of pleasure as a result of I occurred to be in the fitting time and the fitting place and did the fitting issues—that is the necessary factor," Shcherbakova stated. "Then again, I really feel this vacancy inside."
The 15-year-old's shaky efficiency after every week of utmost strain and scrutiny raises questions in regards to the psychological well being of younger athletes and if Valieva ought to have been capable of compete with a constructive drug check outcome.
"It's so irresponsible what was achieved right here," former Olympic determine skater Katarina Witt stated in keeping with AP. "The entire world was watching, after which she broke. She is 15. She's a baby."
A Russian journalist requested Bach on the IOC press convention following the shocking determine skating outcomes if he felt partly chargeable for the "media chaos" surrounding Valieva. Bach deflected the blame, saying that "those who've administered this drug in her physique, these are those who're responsible," the AP reported.
Replace 02/18/22, 10:01 a.m. ET: This story has been up to date with extra background and knowledge.
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