Posted by A.S. on 2/20/2003, 11:48 am
Board Administrator

Thu, Feb 20, 2003 TATU star LENA KATINA needed treatment from doctors after a vicious catfight with bandmate JULIA VOLKOVA left her with leg injuries. The lesbian duo — heading for their third week at No1 with All The Things She Said — had the massive bust-up in their hotel room while on tour in the Czech Republic. Staff at Prague’s four-star Teatrino Hotel heard screams from the room they were sharing before Lena was rushed for medical attention. Sources believe the argument was sparked by overwork and being together 24 hours a day. One said: “The pressure got too much and they snapped.” Lena was still clearly in pain when she left hospital, limping around with a bruised and swollen right leg. Polydor record bosses have sworn the girls to secrecy over the incident and Lena is believed to have been given the OK to keep on touring. Polydor say she was hurt when she slipped in her room. Czech tour organisers last night also tried to play down the bust-up. Promoter Frantisek Babka said: “Lena’s leg was swollen which is why we called a doctor.” But insiders are adamant she was injured during a nasty row between the pair, who have stunned Czech fans by rubbing each others boobs and frolicking on stage in skimpy white vests and shorts. One said: “Everybody knows the girls have a love-hate relationship. One minute they are friendly and touchy-feely and the next they are tearing each other’s hair out. “They have been under a lot of pressure with a gruelling schedule. The amount of time they are spending together means there will be rows.” A nurse at the Prague Military Hospital where Lena was treated said: “She was in the treatment room for 15 minutes while doctors worked on her injured leg. When she left she was limping on her right leg.” The saucy Russian duo have been hampered by illness in the past month. They had to cancel a UK visit a few weeks ago when Julia suffered a throat problem. She was ordered not to travel by doctors who had planned to operate but later changed their minds after she responded well to treatment. The girls, who have sold five million records worldwide, are set to visit the UK in May to promote their next single.