Russian luge team coach Mikhail Zavyalov...

Nodar Kumaritashvili died after a crash at Whistler Sliding Center during a practice session on Friday.

"The sportsman is not to blame at all," Zavyalov told RIA Novosti on the phone. "The people holding the competition are to blame, as they failed to ensure conditions for him not to flip over."

Zavyalov said a special commission of the International Olympic Committee established to look into the incident could introduce changes in competition regulations.

"A conference is already underway, they are trying to find out [why the incident occurred]," he said, adding that Kumaritashvili"s death was unprecedented.

Kumaritashvili, 21, lost control of his sled during his second training run on the track and flipped over the side, crashing into a steel pole. He was taken to hospital but doctors were unable to save his life.

The Olympic luge track in Whistler is considered to be one of the world"s fastest and has already raised safety concerns among sports

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