Sweden's XC coach Braten resigns

Inge Braten has resigned as the coach of Sweden’s cross-country team following a fallout with several skiers at the World Championships in Japan last month.
STOCKHOLM, Sweden — Inge Braten has resigned as the coach of Sweden’s cross-country team following a fallout with several skiers at the World Championships in Japan last month.
    Braten, a Norwegian, led Sweden’s ski team to its most successful Olympics in 18 years in Torino last year, but was criticized by some skiers after he excluded Olympic gold medalist Thobias Fredriksson from a race in Sapporo at the worlds. Fredriksson withdrew from the championships and his brother, former overall World Cup winner Mathias Fredriksson, publicly scolded Braten for the decision.
    Sweden’s ski federation said Braten announced his resignation Tuesday, but it did not state his reasons for leaving.
    “I want to thank Inge for these two seasons, and I wish him good luck with future challenges,” the federation’s nordic director, Per-Ake Yttergard, said.
    A replacement for Braten will be named at a later date, the federation said.