St. Petersburg, Russia • As it edges closer to a ban from the Winter Olympics, the Russian sports world is a bitter place.
Investigations into doping haven't encouraged Russian athletes to speak out about abuses. Instead, there is a public hunt for whistleblowers, or "traitors to the motherland," as cross-country ski federation president Yelena Valbe calls them.
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin has claimed the International Olympic Committee — which will make the final ruling on Russia's eligibility — is being manipulated by shadowy U.S. interests intent on using doping scandals to disgrace his government ahead of elections in March.