Russia's Olympic team has complained to Rio organizers after flags hanging in its Olympic village accommodation were allegedly desecrated.

Synchronized swimmer Alexandra Patskevich told Russian newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda that flags hanging inside Russia's building were "torn down and tied in knots" on the floor on two occasions.

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Her comments sparked protests on Russian social media at what some suggested was a deliberate attempt to provoke Russia by people hostile to its team's presence at the games following reports of wide-scale, state-sponsored doping in Russia.

The head of the Russian delegation, Igor Kazikov, says in video posted online that he is investigating and has raised the issue with the Rio organizing committee.

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Kazikov says only one flag was involved and perhaps it was "the fault of a cleaner" rather than an anti-Russian conspiracy.