01:43Russian Sports Minister Oleg Matytsin said International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach should be more restrained in comments on Kamila Valiyeva's coach Eteri Tutberidze's reaction after the 15-year-old figure skater's performance. Matytsin was speaking at a press conference after a retreat of the State Duma Committee on Physical Education and Sport in Yekaterinburg, on Friday.
"Comments are a private matter, but of course if the president of the International Olympic Committee is speaking as president of the Olympic Committee, I think they [the comments] should be more restrained. As far as I know, the speech was about a television broadcast. To say the least, it is debatable, to define and assess the coach's behaviour and assess the relationship with the athlete on television," Matytsin said.
Matytsin also called on the entire international sports community to support Kamila "to help her recover and show again that she is the best figure skater of today."
Earlier, Bach expressed bewilderment at the "tremendous coldness" of Valiyeva's coach after her free skating programme at the Beijing Olympics.
Valieva tested positive to a banned doping substance but was allowed to continue competing in the Olympic Games, sparking backlash and criticism of IOC's handling of the case.
Russia: IOC pres 'should be more restrained' in comments on Valiyeva's coach - Sports Minister Matytsin
Russian Sports Minister Oleg Matytsin said International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach should be more restrained in comments on Kamila Valiyeva's coach Eteri Tutberidze's reaction after the 15-year-old figure skater's performance. Matytsin was speaking at a press conference after a retreat of the State Duma Committee on Physical Education and Sport in Yekaterinburg, on Friday.
"Comments are a private matter, but of course if the president of the International Olympic Committee is speaking as president of the Olympic Committee, I think they [the comments] should be more restrained. As far as I know, the speech was about a television broadcast. To say the least, it is debatable, to define and assess the coach's behaviour and assess the relationship with the athlete on television," Matytsin said.
Matytsin also called on the entire international sports community to support Kamila "to help her recover and show again that she is the best figure skater of today."
Earlier, Bach expressed bewilderment at the "tremendous coldness" of Valiyeva's coach after her free skating programme at the Beijing Olympics.
Valieva tested positive to a banned doping substance but was allowed to continue competing in the Olympic Games, sparking backlash and criticism of IOC's handling of the case.
Russian Sports Minister Oleg Matytsin said International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach should be more restrained in comments on Kamila Valiyeva's coach Eteri Tutberidze's reaction after the 15-year-old figure skater's performance. Matytsin was speaking at a press conference after a retreat of the State Duma Committee on Physical Education and Sport in Yekaterinburg, on Friday.
"Comments are a private matter, but of course if the president of the International Olympic Committee is speaking as president of the Olympic Committee, I think they [the comments] should be more restrained. As far as I know, the speech was about a television broadcast. To say the least, it is debatable, to define and assess the coach's behaviour and assess the relationship with the athlete on television," Matytsin said.
Matytsin also called on the entire international sports community to support Kamila "to help her recover and show again that she is the best figure skater of today."
Earlier, Bach expressed bewilderment at the "tremendous coldness" of Valiyeva's coach after her free skating programme at the Beijing Olympics.
Valieva tested positive to a banned doping substance but was allowed to continue competing in the Olympic Games, sparking backlash and criticism of IOC's handling of the case.