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Elise Christie's coach criticises decision to strip skater of medal

Nick Gooch criticises the decision to strip Elise Christie of a medal in the short track 500m women's speed skating final at the Sochi Winter Olympics.

Elise Christie's coach has criticised the decision to strip the 23-year-old of a medal in the Olympic short track 500m women's speed skating final earlier today, deeming the referee's call "controversial".

During her first lap, the 23-year-old nudged into Italy's Arianna Fontana, who in turn wiped out South Korea's Park Sueng-Hi in the process.

"The Olympic Games always throws up controversial results," Nick Gooch told reporters. "It is one of these things. It is a race – bumps happen – the referee watches the video and they make a call on what they think.

"We look at it from our perspective and you could argue it until the cows come home it would make no difference. You can appeal it, you can make an official written warning but it is not going to make a difference.

"The way the referee looks at it, is that Elise instigated the crash. Clearly she was knocked off her feet by the Italian girl but the way the referee looks at it, it was that Elise instigated and caused the crash."

Christie fought back tears as she disputed the decision, claiming that Fontana had hit her first.

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Elise Christie of Great Britain reacts after the Short Track Speed Skating Ladies' 500 m Final on day 6 of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at at Iceberg Skating Palace on February 13, 2014
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