Chemist apologizes to ‘clean’ athletes

An apology for Russia’s doping scheme is ready to be issued. Not by the state that ordered the systematic cover-up but by the chemist who helped Russian athletes trick the system.

“I am very sorry to all the clean athletes we cheated,” former Russian anti-doping laboratory director Grigory Rodchenkov said in response to questions sent through his lawyer.

Similar remorse has not been forthcoming from the Russian authorities, who challenge the legitimacy of Rodchenkov’s confessions and deny any doping was state-sponsored.

Rodchenkov, who fled to the United States to expose the elaborate ruse to evade doping tests, claimed the Russians still are “lying and denying.”

Rodchenkov also berated the Court of Arbitration for Sport for overturning lifetime Olympic bans on Russians, saying the ruling gave the impression to clean competitors that “we don’t care about you.”

Rodchenkov maintained athletes were complicit in the doping program after following “strict orders” from the state.

Rodchenkov, who lives in hiding, denied claims by Russian President Vladimir Putin that his unmasking of the scandal was being controlled by U.S. agencies.

“As usual, Putin is misinformed,” Rodchenkov said in emailed responses to the AP. “I am speaking the truth. No one is influencing me.”

Bach critic expelled after security run-in

An International Olympic Committee member expelled from the games over a run-in with a security guard also is one of the few members openly critical of President Thomas Bach’s move to allow Russian athletes to compete at the games.

Adam Pengilly, a vice president of the International Bobsled and Skeleton Federation, apologized and acknowledged running through the security checkpoint at his hotel and using coarse language Thursday. He denied accusations that he pushed the guard in the incident.

Pengilly, who is British, didn’t support the decision allowing Russians to compete in Pyeongchang in the wake of a massive doping scandal.

Pengilly, who competed in skeleton at the 2006 and 2010 Winter Olympics, apologized to the organizers and wrote an apology to the guard.

‘Burned rock’ foul causes rare curling stir

A rare moment of controversy in the typically ultra-polite sport of curling erupted over a foul known as a “burned rock” in the Canada vs. Denmark women’s match.

The drama unfolded in the fifth end, or period, of the tense game, when a Danish player touched a stone that was in motion. That is a foul called a “burned rock.”

When burned rocks occur, the opposing team has three choices: They can ignore the foul, rearrange the stones to whatever position they think they would have ended up if the stone hadn’t been touched, or remove the stone from play.

Canada captain Rachel Homan chose to remove the stone. Such a move is considered the most aggressive option. Canada, which was behind before the foul, went on to score four points, taking the lead at 6-4.

The Dutch rallied for a 9-8 overtime win when Homan flubbed her final shot.

Wyoming skier helped off after wipeout

Resi Stiegler, a skier from Jackson, Wyoming, had to be helped off the slopes after hitting a gate during the women’s slalom.

Stiegler hooked a gate with her right ski during her first run, sending her sliding down the mountain. She stood up on her own after the crash.

The 32-year-old is competing in her third and possibly final Olympics.