After Kamila Valieva debacle, IOC president takes rare shots at Russians

IOC President Thomas Bach joined the global bandwagon of support for Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva Friday, criticizing her entourage and questioning whether 15-year-old athletes should be put under such pressure at the Olympics.

His tone surprised Olympic observers – accustomed to hearing Bach defend Russian athletes despite the massive 2014 doping scandal – and drew a quick rebuke from Moscow.

Valieva's emotional breakdown after a mistake-strewn skate and unforgiving questioning by her coach made millions of viewers cringe, especially after a week-long drama over her positive drug test. Bach said he felt the same way, spending much of his news conference taking rare swipes at Russia.

Bach had direct criticism of Valieva's entourage, saying they showed "a tremendous coldness, it was chilling to see this."

The IOC leader did not mention Eteri Tutberidze, though he clearly targeted the preeminent coach of Russia's dominant women's figure skating program.

Bach's words got him into a testy exchange with a Russian reporter. Later, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Bach "does not like the toughness of our coaches, but everyone knows that in elite sports the coach's toughness is key to the students' victories."

WATCH l  Valieva struggles in free skate, finishes 4th:

The endless Olympic story of unethical behaviour by Russian sports officials is casting a shadow over a fifth straight Games in Bach's nine years as president. Many critics of the IOC say Valieva's doping scandal is a direct result of Russia flouting the rules for decades without real punishment from the IOC.

Olympic sports have lived through a decade of Russian doping and cover-ups after the home team was caught cheating at the 2014 Sochi Olympics, a