MOSCOW, February 9 Head of the Russian Ski Racing Federation Elena Vyalbe announced a boycott by Norwegian Media after the publication of NRK about the skiers of the Russian team at the Beijing Olympics. Bolshunov won gold in the skiathlon on February 6 at the Beijing Olympics. This medal of the highest standard was the first for the Russian team at the Games. Also, Denis Spitsov, who became the second, got into the prizes. Norwegian journalist Jan Petter Saltvedt later wrote in NRK that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) should not have allowed Bolshunov and other athletes from Russia to the Olympics.
"This already exceeds all unthinkable rules. No one remembered that the Norwegians also had disqualified athletes. I've boycotted the Norwegian media, I'll never give them an interview. Let them apologize in public", — quotes Vyalbe"Match TV".
According to the decision of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), athletes from Russia are deprived of the flag and anthem at major international competitions until December 2022 of the year. The country during this period does not have the right to hold major tournaments on its territory. This is due to the doping scandal in Russian sports.