Russia will appeal the expulsion of two of its skiers from the Olympics, the RIA Novosti news agency reported today, quoting a Russian vice-chairman of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
The Russian Olympic Committee would lodge an appeal after the IOC on Sunday ejected from the Games cross-country skiers Larissa Lazutina and Olga Danilova for doping, Vitaly Smirnov said in Salt Lake City.
It also would challenge the IOC's decision to strip Lazutina of the gold medal she won on Sunday, he said.
Lazutina (36) was stripped of her women's 30 km classical cross-country gold medal but was allowed to keep silver medals from the 15 km freestyle and the 10 km combined races.
Danilova (31) will keep her silver medal from the combined and a gold medal in the women's cross-country pursuit.
RIA Novosti quoted Russian Olympic team spokesman Victor Mamatov as saying that Russia would lodge an official complaint with the Olympic international arbitration court in the Swiss city of Lausanne "within the next few days".
On Thursday, Russia had threatened to pull out of the Olympics when Lazutina was banned from the 4x5 km nordic ski relay after failing a doping test.
However, Russia later pledging to take part in the rest of the competition and the closing ceremony.
AFP