Russian President Vladimir Putin hasn't been seen in public for over a week and rumour mills are abuzz. Is the macho Putin playing doting dad to a new love child with his rumored Olympian girlfriend?

There is also speculation has fallen seriously or even worse -- he is dead.

Swiss paper Bilk reported that Putin was in Switzerland with Alina Kabayeva, a beautiful 32-year-old Russian gymnast who won a gold medal in the 2004 Athens Olympics.

The paper said that the two were staying in a private hospital -- popular with wealthy Russians -- and that Kabayeva had given birth to a girl.

The divorced Putin has never confirmed the relationship, but the two have been linked for several years. There are unconfirmed reports that Kabayeva has two other kids with Putin, reports The New York daily.