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.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
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 every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
