Russians furious over figure skating \\\'fix\\\' slur

Russian officials on Sunday angrily denied a report that they were colluding with the Americans to help each other win figure skating gold at the Sochi Olympics. It follows a story in French newspaper L'Equipe quoting an unnamed Russian coach saying there was a deal between the two former Cold War foes. The deal allegedly would help Americans Meryl Davis and Charlie White beat Canada's Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir to gold in ice dancing while Russia would win the team and pairs competitions. "This is rubbish and chatter," said the director general of the Russian figure skating federation Valentin Piseyev, quoted by the R-Sport state sports news agency. "If they have proof then present it and don't just talk. We already went through this in Salt Lake City (2002 Games) and if someone wants to make a champion through means other than skating and through pressure in the press then that is not going to happen." Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko added: "There is no point in commenting on such rubbish," according to a news agency.