Russian President Vladimir Putin says he agrees with Russian Olympic officials who claim there is an anti-Russian bias in the judging at this year's Olympic Games. Mr. Putin told reporters Friday that the Russian team has been subjected to unfair and biased judging. Other government officials echoed his statement. Thursday, the Russian Olympic Committee president said the team may leave the games early because of a string of decisions against Russian athletes. Leonid Tyagachev says he told International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge that his nation -- long a giant in winter sports -- has been "greatly unappreciated" in the Olympics, which conclude Sunday. Earlier Thursday, Russia's top cross-country skier was disqualified from a relay event because a pre-race blood test showed her hemoglobin levels were too high. And last week Canada challenged the judging in the pairs figure-skating event, during which a Russian couple took gold and Canada took silver. The Russians and Canadians ended up sharing the first-place title. Mr. Tyagachev also criticized the referees during Russia's ice-hockey quarterfinal with the Czech Republic last Friday, even though Russia won the match 1-0. He says Russia may decide to skip the 2004 summer games in Athens if its concerns are not addressed by the I-O-C. Also on Thursday, 16-year-old American Sarah Hughes took the women's figure-skating title Thursday night, leaving Russian Irina Slutskaya and American favorite Michelle Kwan with silver and bronze medals. The women's ice hockey team from Canada won gold over the United States. Sweden took the bronze. And Austria's Stephan Eberharter won the gold medal in men's skiing giant slalom. Today's events feature ladies' slalom skiing, bobsled, and men's speed-skating competitions. (Reuters, AP,AFP, Prev)

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