NOVE MESTO, Czech Republic, February 9 (R-Sport) - Russian tycoon Mikhail Prokhorov vowed Saturday to step down from his position as head of the country's biathlon federation in the event of a flop at the Sochi Olympics next year.

The Russians are under immense pressure to avoid the kind of flop that brought disgrace to the winter sports powerhouse at Vancouver 2010.

Two of Russia's miserly haul of three golds came in the biathlon, and Prokhorov set that as a minimum target to remain in his post beyond February 2014.

"A result that wouldn't do for me is fewer than two gold medals," he said on the sidelines of the world biathlon championships in the Czech Republic.

"If there will be fewer than that, then I'm resigning. It means I'll have failed."

Prokhorov has been president of the Russian Biathlon Union since October 2008. Forbes reports he is Russia's eighth-richest man with assets worth an estimated $13.2 billion.

He is a keen biathlete and also owns the Brooklyn Nets NBA franchise.