Vladimir Putin has angrily accused the International Association of Athletics Federations of "blatant discrimination" for banning almost the entire Russian Olympic track and field team. Speaking at a farewell event for Russia's Rio-bound Olympians in Moscow, the Russian President said the absence of athletes from the world's largest country would also diminish the competition.
In regards to the IAAF decision to reject the eligibility applications of 67 of Russia's 68-strong athletics team, the TASS news agency quoted Putin as saying it had "gone beyond legal boundaries as well as beyond the point of common sense". Putin continued by denouncing the IAAF as "short-sighted politicians" spoiling sport's ability to bring people together.
The 63-year-old former KGB officer later bid the team good luck, calling them "winners" and promising them financial rewards if they win medals. Russia's involvement in the Rio Games, however, has been a source of huge embarrassment to Putin and his country. The Russian athletics federation has been banned from international competition since November and last week the Russian Olympic Committee failed in a bid to get this ban overturned at the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The athletics sanction was imposed after a World Anti-Doping Agency-commissioned investigation uncovered widespread doping. That inquiry also led to the suspension of Russia's anti-doping agency and Moscow anti-doping laboratory.
World Rowing has taken the hardest stance with Russia since athletics ahead of the Rio Olympics, banning 22 of the nation's 28 rowers from competing. But the Russian team was given a boost on Tuesday when the governing bodies for judo, shooting and sailing, among other sports, waved some athletes through.
The Russian contingent as a whole is now expected to number around 200 - well short of its usual Olympic strength, but enough to ensure that Putin will be able to celebrate some medals.
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