Russia's Deputy Prime Minister has delivered a stinging riposte after the coach of Kamila Valieva was accused of "chilling" behaviour towards the athlete.
The 15-year-old figure skater was controversially permitted to compete in this week's individual event, despite testing positive for the banned substance Trimetazidine.
The result was announced after she'd delivered a virtuoso display in the team event, becoming the first skater to land a quadruple axel as the Russian Olympic Committee seemingly won gold.
Despite the hyperbole of pressure which followed, and the cancellation of the team medal ceremony, Valieva notched a score of 82.16 with the judges in Tuesday's short programme - enough for first place.
However, in Thursday's free skate segment, the emotional toll of the saga appeared to get to her, and she made multiple errors before leaving the ice in tears.
Valieva was then given a lowly score of 141.93, meaning a fourth placed finish overall as compatriots Anna Shcherbakova and Alexandra Trusova won gold and silver respectively. Japan's Kaori Sakamoto took bronze.
There was no offer of comfort in the aftermath though, as coach Eteri Tutberidze immediately confronted her with the question "why did you stop fighting?"
Tutberidze did eventually put her arm around the athlete, but only after asking "Why did you let it go? Explain it to me, why?"
Her actions were condemned by International Olympic Committee President Bach, who said: "When I saw how she was received by her closest entourage with what appeared to be a tremendous coldness, it was chilling to see this, rather than giving her comfort, rather than to try to help her."
Bach added the incident didn't give him 'much confidence' in those close to Valieva.
However, Dmitry Chernyshenko has accused Bach of making "inappropriate" remarks.
In an exclusive interview with insidethegames, the politician said "We are deeply disappointed to see an IOC President weave his own fictional narrative on the feelings of our athletes, and then present these publicly as the voice of the IOC."
Chernyshenko, chief executive of the much maligned 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, added "This is frankly inappropriate and wrong.
"Everyone recognises the Olympics as the pinnacle of professional sport, and every single athlete bears the hopes and dreams of their entire nation for their success.
"That is a known pressure, and it is also what drives them forward, with a fighting spirit.
"Win or lose we know our athletes are world-beating, and they do too."
Tutberidze, 47, is renowned in Russia for her tough methods with athletes.
