Russia's 2002 Salt Lake City commemorative was issued during a Games overshadowed by the pairs figure skating scandal, in which the French judge Marie-Reine Le Gougne admitted to colluding with Russian officials to award gold to the Russian pair over the Canadians Sale and Pelletier — a controversy that ultimately forced the IOC to award duplicate gold medals. The Bank of Russia issued several silver 3-rouble pieces tied to that cycle, each corresponding to a specific sport discipline rather than the Games as a whole.
Russia's 2002 Salt Lake City commemorative was issued during a Games overshadowed by the pairs figure skating scandal, in which the French judge Marie-Reine Le Gougne admitted to colluding with Russian officials to award gold to the Russian pair over the Canadians Sale and Pelletier — a controversy that ultimately forced the IOC to award duplicate gold medals. The Bank of Russia issued several silver 3-rouble pieces tied to that cycle, each corresponding to a specific sport discipline rather than the Games as a whole.