Home | China | World | Business Russian Olympic Committee to Defend Athletes Stripped of Medals in U.S. WED, FEB 27, 2002     President of the Russian National Olympic Committee Leonid Tyagachyov said Tuesday that he will seek justice for a number of Russian athletes who were stripped of medals at the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. "I will be defending the interests of Larisa Lazutina and our other athletes to the end," Tyagachyov told the press upon his arrival at Moscow's Sheremetyevo-2 airport from the U.S. on Tuesday. "Officials did not lose the competitions, officials did not play any role at all, it was athletes, their coaches, and heads of sports federations who played their role," he said. The head of the Russian Olympic Committee emphasized that he does not consider himself a sports official. Five-time Olympic champion skier Larisa Lazutina, who was deprived of a gold Olympic medal on the last day of the Games, said that she does not feel guilty and is going to seek justice in court. "This is not a mistake, this is a plot against me and against other Russian athletes," she said. Hundreds of sports fans turned out to greet the winners and runners-up of the Olympics at the airport, holding Russian flags and banners welcoming the Olympians home. Among them were a brass band and Russian Vice Prime Minister Valentina Matviyenko. Editor:Liu Hongji Source:Xinhua Recommend to your friend email:    China Central Television,All Rights Reserved