Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin left for the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics on Thursday amid a doping scandal that has thinned and demoralised the Russian squad, reported dpa.
During his two-day visit Putin will meet with the Russian team as well as hold talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao and US President George W Bush and other world leaders attending the opening ceremony, the premier's press service said.
The foreign trip falling as President Dmitry Medvedev retired for a week vacations raised eyebrows among Russia watchers who believe Putin has retain the upper hand after swapping offices with his former protege Medvedev.
Putin, for whom sports victories and Russia's bid to host the 2014 Olympics was a national priority, said he anticipates a big medal count for Russia at the August 8-24 Games.
"In the last three Olympic Games ... our team won 243 medals. We believe that in Beijing we will be able not only to repeat but to beat this," Putin told Chinese journalist in an interview posted on the government's website on Wednesday.
But Russia lost some of its greatest medal hopes as a string of athletes were suspend over doping allegations, and Russian newspapers cited sources saying as many as 11 more athletes had failed their drug tests.
Elena Soboleva, one of those suspended, set the year's fastest 800m and 1,500m times of the year. Four other track and field athletes were also considered top medal contenders.
Cyclist Vladimir Gusev and race walker Vladimir Kanaiki, who set world record last year, were also barred from the team.
Coming just one week before the start of the Games, Russia's Olympic Committee has protested the timing of the announcement that eliminates the possibility for an appeal.
Russian media cited angry officials and athletes spun conspiracy theories that political ambitions were behind the doping scandal to increase host country China's medal standing at the Games.
Putin did not comment on the scandal in the interview with Chinese media that was posted undated of the government's website. It was unclear whether he would raise the topic with Olympic organizers.
A government official was quoted by news agency Interfax as saying that Putin's Beijing visit had been planned long before he stepped down as president in May.
"It is well known that Putin personally oversaw the spadework for winning the Sochi Olympics and that this is interrelated to his visit to Beijing is obvious," the agency quoted the Russian official as saying.
Putin networked vivaciously for Russia's successful bid to host the 2014 in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, and over 10 billion dollars has already been earmarked for to reshape the resort for the Games.
An explosion in the popular beach-side resort on Thursday killed two people and injured three others, prompting Medvedev to call on top government officials for a thorough investigation into the case.