Olympics chief Thomas Bach in 'birthday' meeting with Vladimir Putin aide

Thomas Bach

Olympics chief Thomas Bach met an aide of Russian President Vladimir Putin ahead of a decision about lifting Russia's Games ban - but mainly to wish him happy birthday, a spokesman said yesterday. Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), met Igor Levitin, who turned 66 on Wednesday, for about four minutes during the Pyeongchang Winter Games on Wednesday, IOC spokesman Mark Adams said.

The meeting came as the IOC ponders whether to lift Russia's suspension from the Olympics, imposed in December over a major drugs scandal, in time for Russian athletes to carry the national flag at Sunday's closing ceremony. Separately, a source said that Russia has paid its $15 million fine to the IOC for the doping controversy, and a Russian curler was stripped of his bronze medal after admitting a doping charge.

Igor Levitin

"It was I believe a four-minute meeting. It was (Levitin's) birthday and I believe the main content was the president wishing him a happy birthday," Adams said. Levitin, a senior figure in table tennis, was appointed as Putin's presidential aide in 2013.

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