Support The Moscow Times!

Putin Says Russia Won’t Boycott Olympics, Admits Partial Blame

Vladimir Putin / Kremlin Press Service

Russia will not boycott the upcoming Olympic Games in South Korea, President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday during a visit to the Gorky car plant where he also announced his run for the presidency in March 2018.

His statement comes a day after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced that Russia was banned from participating in the 2018 Winter Games in Pyeongchang due to “systematic manipulation of the anti-doping rules and system.” Russian athletes vetted by an IOC panel will be allowed to compete under a neutral flag.

Some Russian officials and athletes have called for a boycott of the Games in response. 

"Without a doubt, we will not announce any obstacles, we won’t stop our Olympians from taking part if someone wants to participate in a personal capacity,” Putin was cited as saying by the Interfax news agency.

Amid criticism that Russia’s leadership has failed to acknowledge any responsibility in the doping scandal, Putin appeared to make a half-apology before hinting that the sanctions are politically motivated. 

"First, it must be said outright, that we are in part to blame for this ourselves because we provided a reason for this,” he said. "And second, I believe that this reason was used in not an entirely honest way, to put it mildly," said Putin.

"Most of the accusations are based on facts that are not proven at all and are to a significant degree unfounded," Putin added.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) ruled last month that Russia’s anti-doping body had failed to meet international standards for the third year in a row.

… we have a small favor to ask.

As you may have heard, The Moscow Times, an independent news source for over 30 years, has been unjustly branded as a "foreign agent" by the Russian government. This blatant attempt to silence our voice is a direct assault on the integrity of journalism and the values we hold dear.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. Our commitment to providing accurate and unbiased reporting on Russia remains unshaken. But we need your help to continue our critical mission.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just 2. It's quick to set up, and you can be confident that you're making a significant impact every month by supporting open, independent journalism. Thank you.

Continue

Read more