Russia pushed its bid to stage the 2014 Winter Olympics yesterday but refused to be drawn into damning Salzburg's chances because of a doping scandal involving the Austrian team that has dominated the Games.

Russian officials listed the Black Sea resort's highlights - a coastal town with a mountain backdrop, a new airport and a region which they say is fully behind the bid.

New buildings and infrastructure would be built to make Sochi - a Soviet-era holiday destination favoured by government officials - modern.

But officials said they faced strong competition, especially from Austria, which despite the doping saga, has all the infrastructure in place.

"Austria has a very serious bid and of course Austria and Salzburg are ready to stage the Winter Games in as far as they do not need to build new sports buildings," said Leonid Tyagachev, president of the Russian Olympic Committee.

"And what has happened to the team in the medical field... well I think that justice will be shown in the athletes' and trainers' results, they will show that Austria is one of the strongest teams in the world," he said.

Austrian officials have voiced increasing exasperation over the doping scandal that was triggered by a visit by coach Walter Mayer, who was banned from the Olympics over a blood doping affair four years ago.

All ten athletes tested during a drugs swoop last week by the IOC at the Winter Games have proved negative.

But the IOC has said the scandal would not affect Salzburg's bid, and the other countries - Kazakhstan, Georgia, Spain, South Korea and Bulgaria - bidding for the Games have also not taken advantage of the furore.

The decision will be made by the IOC in July 2007.