Reader "Popovich" directs us to a report from the Sydney Morning Herald regarding Russia's version of the "breast stroke" at an international swimming competition in Australia recently:

A coach with Russia's World Swimming Championships diving team squeezed a female security guard's breast after lunging for an ID badge hanging around her neck, a court heard today. Vladimir Rulev, 56 (pictured above), was drunk when he allegedly groped his victim - a hotel security guard - as he was escorted back to his room, Melbourne Magistrates' Court was told.

Rulev initially denied allegations of indecent assault and unlawful assault, following the alleged incident at the Mercure Hotel on Swanston Street in Melbourne on Saturday. But outside court after today's hearing, his solicitor Paul Horvath said Rulev would plead guilty to the unlawful assault charge when he appears again on Monday. "But on the charge of indecent assault, he says he's not guilty," Mr Horvath said.

Leading Senior Constable Glenn Taylor told the court Rulev - in Melbourne for the FINA World Swimming Championships - was intoxicated and had to be helped into a lift by the female guard and the night duty manager. After exiting the lift on his floor, Rulev is alleged to have grabbed at the guard's accreditation around her neck and squeezed her left breast. "The victim was upset and pushed the defendant away. He then took hold of the victim's accreditation around her neck and pulled it, causing some pain in her neck," Snr Const Taylor said. "The defendant was then led towards a room used by the team liaison (officer) and he again grabbed the victim around the waist." Rulev was later arrested and interviewed before being charged over the alleged assault. Today's hearing had been specially scheduled for 9am (AEST) as Rulev was due to catch a 3pm flight back to Russia, but in the end the case did not start until almost 11am.

Afterwards, Mr Horvath told reporters the rest of the Russian diving team was believed to have returned home on their scheduled flight. "We have to assess how the case will proceed after next Monday. I would be surprised if it did not conclude next Monday so I expect he will want to travel immediately to his home country then," Mr Horvath said. He said Rulev was no longer staying at the same hotel, adding new accommodation still had to be arranged and Victoria Police notified of the details.

Magistrate Paul Smith adjourned the case and ordered Rulev to appear in court again next Monday.