The 35-year-old enjoyed a successful career, winning a silver medal as a member of Latvia's four-man team at the 2009 World Championships in Lake Placid.

He was also part of the man-four squad that won a gold medal in the 2008 European Championships in Cesana. 

Hopes of Olympic success at Vancouver in 2010 were ruined, however, before he needed appendix surgery shortly after arriving in Canada. 

This prevented him from competing in the two-man event, but attempted to return to the four-man event before finally withdrawing to pain still experienced following his surgery and injuries to other crew members.

As a coach, Minins amongst others worked in Slovakija and Belgium.

Since 2013, he worked had worked with Russia's women's team.

The future of the Russian Federation of Bobsleigh is uncertain, however, after a warrant was issued for the arrest of its President Gaeorgy Bedzhamov.

A court in Moscow last month ordered the arrest of Bedzhamov, co-owner of Vneshprombank, charged with an illegal withdrawal of bank assets worth 235 billion roubles (£2.4 billion/$3.4 billion/€3 billion).

He was reportedly arrested in Monaco earlier this month and Russian authorities are expected to seek his extradition. 

Poland has never won a medal in bobsleigh at either the Olympic Games or World Championships.