Russia's sports minister, Vitaly Mutko, has accused Britain of using 'political clout' to win medals at the London Games.
"The Britsh are just as [bad] as [the Chinese] in Beijing," The
Guardian quoted Mutko as saying, adding:
"Here in London everyone wants the British to win. They have a very strong political support."
Mutko had before the start of the London Games said: "It would not be a national tragedy if the 436-strong team finished fourth in the table".
Mutko cited Russia's poor showing in boxing events in which it was expected to win as evidence of political clout influencing certain sports.
According to the report, the Russians had high hopes of winning medals in boxing before the Games, but Mutko singled out the sport as being particularly 'suspect'.
"Three of our boxers had been prevented from reaching the final," Mutko said, referring to the light-flyweight David Ayrapetyan, flyweight Misha Aloian and welterweight Andrei Zamkovoy, who lost their semi-final bouts.
"Britain's boxers may have benefited by a partisan home crowd swaying the judges," utko said, adding: "[The British] are planning a happy end in boxing tomorrow," after three British men reached the finals.
He also felt Sofya Ochigava, who lost to Ireland's Katie Taylor 10-8 in the women's lightweight final on Thursday, should have won the gold medal. "She didn't deserve such a score," he said.
Boxing has been the subject of controversy in the past and at one time was in danger of being thrown out of the Olympics because of allegations of corruption in the sport.
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