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'Strictly's' Kristina Rihanoff defends romance with ex-rugby player Ben Cohen

Strictly professional Kristina Rihanoff defends her relationship with ex-rugby player Ben Cohen by insisting that his marriage was over when they began dating.

Kristina Rihanoff has defended her romance with former rugby player Ben Cohen after the Strictly Come Dancing professional faced accusations of being a home-wrecker.

The Russian dancer has recently begun dating Cohen, who was partnered with Rihanoff two years ago during a season of the BBC reality TV show.

Cohen's estranged wife Abigail recently suggested on Twitter that Rihanoff played a part in the couple's marriage breakdown, but the 37-year-old dancer has rejected the suggestions.

"He left his wife a year ago," The Mirror quotes Rihanoff as saying. "Recently we started dating but we're allowed to see each other as two single people.

"I don't know why I am always attacked. I am a hardworking, self-made person. I support five people in my family in Russia."

Rihanoff previously dated Strictly dancer Vincent Simone and former boxer Joe Calzaghe, who she partnered on a previous series of the show.

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Ben Cohen of the Northern Hemisphere XV for the Help for Heroes Challenge passes the ball during the captain's run at Twickenham Stadium on December 2, 2011
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