Russian Olympic Committee says head resigns

Moscow: Russia`s Olympic Committee on Wednesday said its president had resigned after the former Olympic powerhouse posted its worst-ever showing at a Winter Games.

Russia came 11th in the medals table with just three golds compared to 14 for hosts Canada. The result was especially embarrassing because Russia is due to host the next Winter Olympics, in 2014 at the Black Sea resort of Sochi. At the Turin games in 2006, Russia was in the top five, with 22 medals, including eight golds. The Olympic Committee`s chief spokesman said Leonid Tyagachyov had resigned as president. "He heeded his conscience and wrote his resignation," Gennady Shvets said on NTV television. Tyagachyov is a friend and regular skiing companion of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, who is seen as the driving force behind Russia`s preparations for the Sochi Games. Tyagachyov`s personal spokeswoman said Shvets` statement was premature. "There has been no official statement from Tyagachyov," Darya Chervonenko said. Interfax news agency quoted an unnamed committee member as saying the resignation would be officially accepted on Thursday. President Dmitry Medvedev on Monday ordered Russian Olympic officials to quit or be fired, but sports minister Vitaly Mutko -- another Putin ally -- has not yet resigned."We do not deny our responsibility," state-run news agency RIA quoted Mutko as saying on Wednesday. "We will take organisational, staffing and financial measures to make sure this never happens again." Bureau Report