Russian Olympic chief confirms resignation

Head of the Russian Olympic Committee, Leonid Tyagachev, on Thursday confirmed his resignation due to Russian Olympic team's Vancouver flop, Xinhua reported.
  
Wednesday's reports concerning Tyagachev's quitting were later rejected by Tyagachev's spokeswoman Darya Chervonenko.
  
Russia recorded its worst performance in Vancouver, taking only three golds, five silvers and seven bronzes to finish 11th for golds and sixth in the overall medal standings.
  
President Dmitry Medvedev on Monday called for a drastic change in the system of athlete training, as well as resignation of officials responsible for preparing Russian athletes for the Winter Olympics.
  
Tyagachev on Thursday told reporters that the Russian delegation had failed all expectations at the Vancouver Winter Olympics, thus as a "responsible" leader, "I believed the evaluation from the government on us was correct, and I will quit the post of Olympic chief."
  
His resignation will be officially announced at an upcoming meeting of the Olympic committee.
  
Tyagachev, 63, served as sports and tourism minister before he took the post in the Olympic Committee in 2001.