Roc President refutes any link of athletes with Takhtakhunov

In a telephone RIA interview Thursday, Russian Olympic Committee President Leonid Tyagachev disproved the existence of any links between Russian athletes, coaches and figure skating experts with a certain Alimzhan Takhtakhunov.

FBI agents helped Wednesday arrest Mr.Takhtakhunov in Italy. Federal district attorney (Southern New York) James Coumy said Wednesday at a press-conference that Taskhtakhunov was charged with conspiracy and bribery whereby a French referee was to vote for a Russian pair while a Russian referee was to support French dancers.

Tyagachev said that if the Russian sportsmen and functionaries had had any contact with Takhtakunov, he (Tyagachev) would have been the first to learn about that.

According to Tyagachev, American secret services can provide no evidence as both our athletes and coaches are far from dirty sports dealings.