09.02 Russia Has Skiathlon Protest Rejected after Missing Out on Bronze

KRASNAYA POLYANA, Russia, February 9 (R-Sport) - The International Ski Federation (FIS) has rejected Russia's protest of Sunday's skiathlon result at the Sochi Olympics after the host nation complained its fourth-placed skier was blocked in the final straight, a Norwegian coach said.

Maxim Vylegzhanin narrowly missed out on a medal after finishing last out of four skiers in a dash for the line of the 30km race in the mountains above Sochi.

Switzerland’s Dario Cologna won the gold, second place went to Sweden’s Marcus Hellner, 2.7 seconds off Cologna, and the bronze was won by Martin Johnsrud Sundby of Norway, 0.7 seconds further back. Vylegzhanin was a tenth of a second further adrift in fourth.

A Norwegian coach told reporters that the protest was not upheld and that Sundby would keep his medal.

Vylegzhanin was ambiguous on the incident.

"Was I cut up? Everyone who watched the race saw that we fought to the end. What happened, happened," he said.

The head of Russia's cross-country ski federation, Elena Valbe, said Russia was taking the protest to another round of FIS appeals.

"Nothing is finished. Everything will continue. We will submit an appeal to the FIS and we have 24 hours to do that," she said. Valbe added that the protest would be submitted directly to the federation rather than officials on site, because otherwise "it would be considered by the same people" who rejected the first complaint.

International regulations forbid any deviation from the optimal racing line.

No. 343.9 of the International Ski Competition Rules states that: "In all competitions obstruction is not allowed. This behavior is defined as deliberately impeding, blocking (by not following best line), charging or pushing any competitor with any part of the body or ski equipment."

Updates with Russia's second appeal, quotes from the national cross-country ski federation.