14.02 Plushenko Uproar Puzzles Russian Figure Skating Chief

SOCHI, February 14 (R-Sport) – Russia's top figure skating official is mystified by the public outcry over Evgeny Plushenko's injury withdrawal from the Sochi Olympics.

The 31-year-old Turin gold medalist pulled out before starting his short program on Thursday after injuring his back in the warm-up, leaving Russia without an entrant.

The move validated the concerns of many observers who had claimed he was not fit to skate four programs in eight days, and added fuel to their argument that Russia's sole place at the Olympics should have been given to 18-year-old Maxim Kovtun, who beat Plushenko in the national championships in December.

But the Russian Figure Skating Federation leapt to Plushenko's defense, citing the crucial contribution he made to the team event, where his country took the gold medal on the back of the skater's first and second place.

"He gave everything in the team competition," its president Alexander Gorshkov said in a statement. "If it weren't for the circumstances, he would have continued in the individual competition."

"In pro sport injuries are no rarity. And when an athlete pulls out because of them, then it should be regarded sensibly, so I don't really understand why what happened with Plushenko has caused such an uproar," Gorshkov added.

The federation had a say in whom of Plushenko, Kovtun and Sergei Voronov to send to Sochi in the first place.

Meanwhile, the episode has attracted the attention of Russian lawmakers, with a nationalist politician calling for new laws limiting the number of Olympic Games any Russian may compete in to two. This was Plushenko's fourth games.

Vladimir Zhirinovsky, the leader of the LDPR party who is notorious for his populist rhetoric, said: "Two Olympics and get lost! Let the youngsters have a go. ... Plushenko is an invalid."

Plushenko has had 12 operations on his back and troublesome knee ligaments in the last few years. He only qualified for the Olympic team after proving his form in a behind-closed-doors performance to Russian skating officials last month.