Olympic Newsdesk -- Russia vs. NHL; Pechstein vs. ISU

Russia Challenges NHL on Olympics

The Russian embassy in Ottawa issued a statement on Thursday stressing that the Russia NHL stars will play in Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics despite the threat of fines.

The NHL has suggested that the Vancouver 2010 Games might be the last for league participation in the Olympics. The NHL is concerned that a two-week Olympic break in midseason is too much of a disruption.

Two-time NHL MVP Alex Ovechkin is outspoken in his desire to play in Sochi. Ovechkin scored five goals for Russia in the 2006 Olympics. In 2008, he registered 12 points to lead his team to gold at the IIHF World Championships.

"Nobody can say to me, 'You can't play for your country in the Olympic Games," Ovechkin said in press release.

"I've played a lot for my country and I know what patriotism is. I just felt what Russia is about, how dear and big it is and how we — hockey players and the national team — are loved there. When you think of people like those you want to win the Olympics twice as much."

In the release, Pittsburgh Penguins center Alexander Medvedev said he would "rather pay a fine and still go."

Atlanta Thrashers left winger Ilya Kovalchuk said he will go to "Sochi in any case."

The Russian press release claims that the NHL's reluctance is part of feud with the Russian Continental Hockey League (KHL) over player signings, transfer fees and access to the European market.

"None of that should matter, because these are the Olympics, and the best players in the world should be playing in them," said KHL President Alexander Medvedev.

"For people to speculate about keeping the best players out, it's destroying the Olympics and it's hurting the growth of hockey."

NHL players first participated in the 1998 Nagano Olympics, followed by the 2002 Salt Lake City Games and the 2006 Turin Games.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said earlier this month that he would review Olympic participation after the Vancouver Games.

New Austrian Olympic Committee President

Karl Stoss is the new president of the Austrian Olympic Committee. Stoss, 52, replaces Leo Wallner who left the post last month mired in scandals.

Stoss was elected president on Thursday at an extraordinary general assembly. Wallner served as AOC president for nearly 20 years.

The new president was in charge of Casinos Austria and managing director for Austrian Lotteries.

Stoss becomes the 11th president of the AOC. The Austrian minister of sports had called for a generational change at the AOC.

A series of scandals stemming from the failed Salzburg bid for the 2014 Olympics also cost Heinz Jungwirth, the long-serving secretary general, his job.

Prosecutors are investigating the transfer of large sums of Euros to a lobbyist for the Salzburg bid. The prosecutors claim Wallner failed to properly monitor the way the money was used.

Pechstein Hearing Concludes

A two-day hearing at the Court of Arbitration Sport for five-time Olympic champion Claudia Pechstein wrapped up on Friday but a decision could be weeks away.

The German speed skater is appealing a two-year ban by the International Skating Union for blood doping. In July, ISU suspended Pechstein after she tested for abnormally high red blood cell levels on multiple occasions. She says the red cell count has a natural explanation while the ISU says it is a sign of doping.

Both sides brought in experts to argue the results at CAS headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland. Pechstein says she has spent $375,000 on her defense including two lawyers and six medical experts.

Matthieu Reeb, secretary general of CAS, told the media on Thursday that a verdict could take weeks instead of days.

Reeb's comments shatter hopes that Pechstein can compete in the German championships on Oct. 30.

She is the first athlete to receive a ban based on indirect evidence. International Ski Federation President Gian-Franco Kasper said the case could have a big impact on future of doping prosecution.

Briefs...

…USOC board chairman Larry Probst tells Brian Gomez of The Colorado Springs Gazette he wants an American to return to the IOC Executive Board. Probst added he wants leaders of American national governing bodies to take control of international federations to help the U.S. get more leverage in the Olympic movement.

…The city of Colorado Springs Colo., announced the selection of GE Johnson Construction Company will complete the interior design of the new USOC headquarters. The project will cost $2.7 million to complete. Estimates say the USOC could move in by the end of March next year.

…USA Track and Field and the City Council of Birmingham in England completed a three-year negotiation for the city to be the 2012 Olympic training site for the U.S. athletics team. The deal is estimated to be worth around $15 million. The city is still hoping to host training venues for teams in other sports.

Written by Ed Hula III and Sam Steinberg.